Patrik Schick eyes another goal-scoring masterclass as inconsistent giants clash at the BayArena, testing Leipzig's road form against a host side desperate to find their clinical edge.
Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig arrive at the BayArena on Sunday with the same objective but very different reasons for needing the result.
For Die Werkself, this is about turning promising moments into something more consistent. Carles Martínez's side have shown enough in the opening weeks of the season to suggest there is quality in the team, but their Bundesliga campaign has yet to settle into a convincing rhythm. A 4-0 victory over Union Berlin was followed by a 2-2 draw at Augsburg, leaving Leverkusen with four points from their opening three league games.
The midweek Europa League victory over NK Celje offered another positive step. Leverkusen controlled the game, kept a clean sheet, and gave themselves the kind of European evening that can provide momentum. Now they have to carry that into a much more demanding domestic test.
Leipzig arrive with their own mixed picture.
Their 5-0 demolition of Hamburger SV last weekend was arguably the clearest statement they have made this season. Antonio Nusa was at the centre of it, while Christopher Nkunku scored his first goal since returning to the club. After defeats to Werder Bremen and Como, however, the performance also raised an obvious question: was it the beginning of a turnaround or simply a response to a favourable situation?
That question will be tested immediately at the BayArena.
Martín Demichelis has already seen how different his team can look depending on the setting. Leipzig have been perfect at home in the Bundesliga, scoring eight times without conceding, but their away performances have been far less convincing. They lost 3-1 at Werder Bremen in their only league trip so far.
Leverkusen, meanwhile, have reason to feel confident about one particular attacking weapon.
Patrik Schick has scored in each of Leverkusen's first three league games, and the striker has a particularly strong recent history against Die Roten Bullen. He scored a hat-trick in the most recent meeting at the BayArena, a 4-1 Leverkusen victory in May.
That makes the battle between Schick and Leipzig's defence one of the defining individual contests of the afternoon.
The visitors will also have to manage a growing injury list. Christoph Baumgartner, Rocco Reitz, Assan Ouédraogo, and Marc Guiu are among those unavailable, while Leipzig have confirmed that Castello Lukeba is being left out as a precaution because of minor groin discomfort.
For Leverkusen, the squad situation is considerably more manageable, with Ibrahim Maza back in training after an illness and available.
There is therefore plenty at stake beyond three points.
Leverkusen wants evidence that their early inconsistency is beginning to disappear. RBL wants to prove that the 5-0 victory over Hamburg was more than an isolated response.
Both teams have already shown they can score. Now comes the harder part: showing they can do it when the opponent has enough quality to punish every weakness.
And at the BayArena, that may be what decides this one.
