Eight-time European champions Germany got their Euro 2022 campaign off to a flying start by hammering Euro 2017 runners-up Denmark at a sold-out Brentford Community Stadium.
Goals from Bayern Munich team-mates Lina Magull and Lea Schuller put the Germans on course for victory in the first heavyweight showdown of the tournament.
Felicitas Rauch twice struck the bar in the space of three first-half minutes for Germany before the lively Magull fired past keeper Lene Christensen for her 20th international goal.
Schuller headed the second from a corner and Wolfsburg's Lena Lattwein made it 3-0. Germany added a fourth through substitute Alexandra Popp.
On a disastrous night for Denmark, they finished with 10 players after substitute Kathrine Kuhl was sent off for a second yellow card in the dying moments.
With Group B rivals Spain defeating Finland 4-1 earlier on Friday, Germany moved into top spot before their match with La Roja next Tuesday.
It was a statement win by Germany who would have won by a more handsome margin but for Christensen.
Magull might have had a hat-trick but the Denmark keeper made a string of fine saves to keep her side in the game before Germany struck three times in the second half.
"We played an outstanding game," said Germany boss Martina Voss-Tecklenburg. "We were incredibly dominant and aggressive."
Germany scored four or more goals in a match at the European Women's Championships for the ninth timePowerful Germany flex their muscles
The days when Germany won this tournament as a matter of course are over. They are the most successful country in the competition's history, winning it eight times, including six in a row between 1995 and 2013.
They were knocked out at the quarter-final stage in 2017 by Denmark, but five years on they ruthlessly turned the tables on the Danes in west London.
Germany started like a team that meant business as Wolfsburg's Rauch twice hit the bar before Magull was denied by a fabulous save.
But there was nothing Christensen could do when Magull stole the ball off Stine Ballisager Pedersen and powered into the penalty area to score the 12th goal of this tournament.
Christensen's save from Magull on the stroke of half-time was crucial, but the fourth game of Euro 2022 was decided when Schuller pounced from a corner moments after Denmark had made a triple change.
Denmark capitulated as Lattwein and then Popp, who made her Germany debut in 2010, ensured the most successful country in the history of the European Women's Championship got off to a fine start.
Denmark fighting to stay in Euro 2022
Denmark came into the tournament with lots of self-belief, but besides Chelsea star Pernille Harder there are not many players who can make an impact on their own.
A sea of red shirts filled Brentford Community Stadium to cheer on the 2017 finalists, but the Danes struggled to carve out chances, with Harder - one of the best players in the world - unable to test Germany keeper Merle Frohms.
Signe Bruun, who played on loan at Manchester United last season, went closest to equalising but was thwarted by Frohms' flying save.
Trailing 1-0, Denmark made a triple change early in the second half in an attempt to haul themselves back into the match.
Forward Nadia Nadim, who fled to Denmark from her home country Afghanistan with her mother and four sisters after her father was killed by the Taliban, was among those sent on.
But within moments Denmark, whose players wore black armbands in tribute to the victims of last week's shooting in a Copenhagen shopping centre, were 2-0 down after Christensen was crowded out at a corner.
Their night went from bad to worse as they conceded another two before teenager Kuhl was sent off.
With Germany and Spain starting with big wins, Denmark now face a battle to reach the quarter-finals.
Their next game is against Finland at Milton Keynes next Tuesday, a match they have to win to give themselves a chance of advancing.
Player of the match
MagullLina Magull
Germany
Squad number20Player nameMagull
Squad number11Player namePopp
Squad number8Player nameLohmann
Squad number4Player nameLattwein
Squad number22Player nameBrand
Squad number7Player nameSchüller
Squad number13Player nameDäbritz
Squad number17Player nameRauch
Squad number16Player nameDallmann
Squad number15Player nameGwinn
Squad number9Player nameHuth
Squad number6Player nameOberdorf
Squad number1Player nameFrohms
Squad number3Player nameHendrich
Squad number5Player nameHegering
Squad number19Player nameBühl
Denmark
Squad number1Player nameChristensen
Squad number10Player nameHarder
Squad number9Player nameNadim
Squad number20Player nameBruun
Squad number17Player nameMadsen
Squad number4Player nameSevecke
Squad number5Player nameBoye
Squad number21Player nameGejl Jensen
Squad number13Player nameJunge
Squad number3Player namePedersen
Squad number7Player nameTroelsgaard
Squad number19Player nameThomsen
Squad number11Player nameVeje
Squad number23Player nameSvava
Squad number12Player nameLarsen
Squad number15Player nameMøller Kühl
Line-ups
Germany
Formation 4-3-3
1Frohms
15Gwinn3Hendrich5Hegering17Rauch
6Oberdorf13Däbritz20Magull
9Huth7Schüller19Bühl
1Frohms15Gwinn3Hendrich5HegeringBooked at 90mins17RauchBooked at 73mins6OberdorfBooked at 40minsSubstituted forLohmannat 84'minutes13DäbritzSubstituted forLattweinat 61'minutes20MagullSubstituted forDallmannat 69'minutes9Huth7SchüllerSubstituted forPoppat 61'minutes19BühlSubstituted forBrandat 61'minutesSubstitutes
2Kleinherne4Lattwein8Lohmann10Freigang11Popp12Schult14Anyomi16Dallmann18Waßmuth21Berger22Brand23DoorsounDenmark
Formation 3-4-3
1Christensen
4Sevecke3Pedersen11Veje
19Thomsen7Troelsgaard13Junge23Svava
10Harder20Bruun17Madsen
1Christensen4Sevecke3Pedersen11Veje19ThomsenSubstituted forLarsenat 84'minutesBooked at 90mins7TroelsgaardSubstituted forMøller Kühlat 56'minutesBooked at 90mins13Junge23SvavaSubstituted forBoyeat 70'minutes10Harder20BruunSubstituted forNadimat 56'minutes17MadsenSubstituted forGejl Jensenat 56'minutesSubstitutes
2Thrige5Boye6Holmgaard8Holmgaard9Nadim12Larsen14Bredgaard15Møller Kühl16Svane18Gewitz21Gejl Jensen22WorsøeLive Text
Match ends, Germany 4, Denmark Women 0.
Second Half ends, Germany 4, Denmark Women 0.
Second yellow card to Kathrine Møller Kühl (Denmark Women) for a bad foul.
Alexandra Popp (Germany) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Kathrine Møller Kühl (Denmark Women).
Marina Hegering (Germany) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Marina Hegering (Germany).
Pernille Harder (Denmark Women) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Giulia Gwinn (Germany) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner.
Attempt blocked. Jule Brand (Germany) header from the centre of the box is blocked.
Stine Larsen (Denmark Women) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Linda Dallmann (Germany) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Stine Larsen (Denmark Women).
Sydney Lohmann (Germany) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Nadia Nadim (Denmark Women).
Goal! Germany 4, Denmark Women 0. Alexandra Popp (Germany) header from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Sydney Lohmann with a cross.
Substitution, Germany. Sydney Lohmann replaces Lena Oberdorf.
Substitution, Denmark Women. Stine Larsen replaces Janni Thomsen.
Offside, Germany. Lena Oberdorf tries a through ball, but Alexandra Popp is caught offside.
Foul by Jule Brand (Germany).