Bayern Munich made light work of their Saturday afternoon clash with Bochum, easing to a devastating 7-0 win to take them to the top of the Bundesliga table.
Early goals from Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Harry Kane gave the hosts a quickfire 2-0 lead before Matthijs de Ligt and Leroy Sane struck to double the champions' advantage before half-time.
Kane would grab his second and third in the second half, sandwiched in between a goal from young Mathys Tel, with Bayern romping home to an emphatic victory. The English striker now has eight goals in all competitions for the German side.
How the game unfolded
It took Thomas Tuchel's side just four minutes to get their opener against lowly Bochum, Choupo-Moting tucking home a selfless Kingsley Coman cross into an empty net from several yards out. Bochum must have been fearing the worst given they have lost 7-0 to Bayern twice in the last two seasons, and those fears would soon be realised.
It was then Kane's turn to pile misery on Bochum. Alphonso Davies' leggy run eventually found its way to the England captain after a fortuitous deflection, but Kane made no mistake in sweeping the ball beyond Manuel Riemann when the opportunity arose with just 13 minutes on the clock.
Bayern would soon have their third when De Ligt answered some critics with a towering header from a Joshua Kimmich cross, perfectly planting the ball in the far corner. Thomas Letsch made two changes after 36 minutes to try and stem the tide, but it had little impact as Sane converted a brilliant Kane pass to make it four just two minutes after the substitutions.
The only disappointment for Bayern is that it wasn't more at the break, with Bochum trudging off the pitch looking broken at half-time.
It was more of the same in the second half for Bayern and it was that man Kane at the heart of it all. Ivan Ordets' handball was rightly pulled back for a penalty just eight minutes after the break, with Kane typically devastating from the spot to make it 5-0 and grab his second of the afternoon.
If it wasn't for Riemann in the Bochum goal, it could have been a lot worse for the visitors. Efforts from Coman and Kane were rebuffed by the veteran goalkeeper as Bayern began to take their foot of the gas and conserve some energy.
That wouldn't stop them getting a sixth, however, or stop Kane grabbing a second assist, even if it was just a simple five yard pass. Tel picked the ball up from his teammate on the left-hand side, cutting in and finding the bottom corner with aplomb.
But there was still time for a first Kane hat-trick for Bayern as the forward converted a Noussair Mazraoui cross with a deft near-post touch to beat Riemann in the 88th minute, putting the icing on the cake for the Bavarians and launching them to a third 7-0 win over Bochum in three years.
Bayern Munich player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: Sven Ulreich - 6/10 - Simply had nothing to do.
RB: Noussair Mazraoui - 7/10 - Similarly to his defensive counterparts, he wasn't required to do much work in his own half. Grabbed an assist for Kane's third.
CB: Matthijs de Ligt - 8/10 - Had no defending to do but scored a great header before being subbed at the break. A good 45 minutes for the Dutchman.
CB: Kim Min-jae - 7/10 - Did everything he needed to do very competently. Will have more difficult afternoons this season.
LB: Alphonso Davies - 8/10 - Characteristically lively down the left flank, with his run leading to Kane's first. Had no defensive work to do, but frequently showcased his pace going the other way.
CM - Konrad Laimer - 7/10 - Energetic and did plenty of pressing. Did well coming in for Leon Goretzka and looks an able deputy in central midfield.
CM: Joshua Kimmich - 8/10 - Beautiful delivery for De Ligt's header and controlled the game very well indeed.
RM: Leroy Sane - 9/10 - Unplayable. Bochum couldn't cope with his pace, his running, his endeavour, his quality. Continued his brilliant start to the campaign.
AM: Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting - 7/10 - Got the opening goal with some good positioning and supported Kane well in advanced positions.
LM: Kingsley Coman - 8/10 - Set up the first goal with a lovely cross and was a constant menace to the Bochum backline. A very encouraging showing.
ST: Harry Kane - 10/10 - Just brilliant. Did exactly what Harry Kane does. Scored a hat-trick, created one with a lovely through ball from deep and generally led the line impeccably. Will face sterner defences, mind.
Substitutes
SUB: Dayot Upamecano (46' for De Ligt) - 6/10
SUB: Frans Kratzig (65' for Davies) - 6/10
SUB: Mathys Tel (65' for Choupo-Moting) - 7/10
SUB: Leon Goretzka (77' for Kimmich) - 6/10
SUB: Thomas Muller (77' for Coman) - 7/10
Subs not used: Peretz (GK), Sarr, Gnabry, Musiala.
Manager
Thomas Tuchel - 7/10 - Set up exactly how he should have to dismantle a pretty woeful Bochum side. Not sure he could have got it wrong given Bayern's superior quality, to be honest.
Player of the match: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
This article was originally published on 90min as Bayern Munich 7-0 Bochum: Player ratings as Harry Kane nets hat-trick in dominant win.
