Ibisevic put the hosts ahead in the 16th minute but Sebastian Freis equalised five minutes later and Karlsruhe remained on level terms until half-time.

Hoffenheim burst into life in the second half though, with Obasi scoring in the 67th and 78th minutes, either side of Ibisevic's second, putting them back to the summit, one point ahead of Bayer Leverkusen.

Karlsruhe slip to 14th and are just two points off the relegation zone.

The hosts, buoyed by their 3-1 defeat of Bochum in midweek, needed just 16 minutes to go ahead, Ibisevic drilling home from 12 yards after latching onto Obasi's cross.

The lead was short-lived however, as Freis' low shot into the bottom left-hand corner gave goalkeeper Daniel Haas no chance.

Demba Ba and Isaac Vorsah both came close to edging Hoffenheim ahead, but the visitors held firm until midway through the second half when Andreas Ibertsberger's shot ended up being a cross for Obasi to head home.

Freis narrowly missed with a long-range shot soon after and Hoffenheim capitalised on the missed chance, extending their lead in the 75th minute when Ibisevic headed in Sejad Salihovic's cross.

Obasi grabbed his second three minutes later, rounding keeper Markus Miller and slotting into an empty net after the creative Salihovic had sent him through on goal with an acute pass.