Toni Kroos scored one goal and set up two more as Bayer Leverkusen returned to the top of the Bundesliga with a comfortable victory at Hoffenheim.

Sami Hyypia gave Leverkusen an early lead and Kroos made it 2-0 in the 51st minute. Tranquillo Barnetta ended all doubts with his goal in the 71st minute. It was a welcome away win for Jupp Heynckes' Leverkusen, who had drawn five in a row before this and they grabbed the lead after just 11 minutes.

Kroos sent a long diagonal free-kick from the left side to the far post where Hyypia got to the ball ahead of Vedad Ibisevic and beat Hoffenheim goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand through the legs for his first goal in the Bundesliga.

Ibisevic missed a chance to make good his mistake four minutes later as Leverkusen goalkeeper Rene Adler made a superb stop against the Bosnia international from 14 yards. The hosts were close in the 28th minute as Boris Vukcevic snatched the ball from Manuel Friedrich and raced down the left side, but the 19-year-old's shot went just wide of the far post.

Vukcevic was just inches wide of the left post six minutes later from 14 yards after Ibisevic stole the ball from Adler.

Kroos doubled the lead for Leverkusen six minutes after the restart. Andreas Beck tried to clear Daniel Schwaab's cross, but struck Eren Derdiyok and the ball landed at Kroos's feet for the 20-year-old to coolly slot home from four yards.

Kroos set up another with 19 minutes left. After some fine passing and a bit of luck, the ball broke to Kroos, who passed into the path of a charging Barnetta for the third goal.