Stefan Kiessling netted a hat-trick as Bayer Leverkusen went back to the top of the Bundesliga with a 4-0 win over Stuttgart.

Kiessling broke the deadlock after 22 minutes and Eren Derdiyok doubled the hosts' advantage six minutes before the break.

The Bundesliga's leading scorer bagged his second just before the hour and completed his treble from the penalty spot three minutes from time.

Jupp Heynckes' undefeated Leverkusen have the best home record this season with 17 points from seven games. Today's win moved them onto 30 points, three clear of second-placed Werder Bremen.

Meanwhile, Stuttgart's nightmares in the Bundesliga continued. Markus Babbel's men have now gone six games without a win and lie 17th on 11 points.

The visitors, heading into the game buoyed by a 2-0 midweek Champions League win at Rangers, mustered the first chance of the match after two minutes but Cacau did not hit his shot cleanly from Alexander Hleb's pass and Leverkusen goalkeeper Rene Adler easily collected the ball.

Leverkusen had two opportunities 10 minutes later but Stuttgart stopper Jens Lehmann cleared Stefan Reinartz's header and Sami Hyypia headed over the crossbar.

Toni Kroos had yet another chance for Heynckes' men but struck the left post after 19 minutes.

The hosts finally grabbed the lead three minutes later. Kroos' free-kick found Hyypia, who headed into the path of Kiessling and he volleyed home from four yards.

Kroos again struck the left post in the 32nd minute. But the young German turned provider to set up the second goal seven minutes later with a diagonal pass to Derdiyok, who headed past Lehmann from nine yards.

Adler made a fine save from Pavel Pogrebnyak a minute before the break and Roberto Hilbert found only the side-netting seven minutes after the interval as the visitors looked for a way back into the game.

Kiessling ended all doubts in the 59th minute, latching onto Kroos' assist and holding off a Stuttgart defending before beating Lehmann.

And Kiessling sealed his hat-trick three minutes before the final whistle, making no mistake from the spot after Lehmann had taken down Derdiyok.