Patrik Schick is in form, the Werkself have already shown their attacking quality and Sunday brings a meeting between two ambitious sides undergoing change

Bayer Leverkusen return to the BayArena on Sunday with something to build on.

After opening the Bundesliga season with a defeat at Elversberg, Die Werkself responded emphatically with a 4-0 victory over Union Berlin before taking a point from an eventful trip to Augsburg. They could have taken more from that game, too. Leverkusen controlled much of the first half, created the clearer openings, and eventually needed a late Patrik Schick finish to leave with a 2-2 draw.

Now comes RB Leipzig and an opportunity to turn an encouraging start into something more substantial.

Schick is central to that ambition. The Czech striker has already scored in each of Die Werkself's three Bundesliga matches this season, including the spectacular late flick that rescued the point in Augsburg. The Bundesliga's own data gave the finish just a four percent probability of becoming a goal, making the 89th-minute equaliser another example of Schick's instinct inside the penalty area.

He has also started the campaign with competition around him rather than carrying the entire attacking burden.

Christian Kofane scored in Augsburg after opening his Bundesliga account against Union Berlin, while Leverkusen's attacking options have given new coach Carles Martínez different ways of approaching games. Against Augsburg, Kofane put Leverkusen ahead after just 18 minutes, finishing a move created by Edmond Tapsoba's long pass.

That depth could be important against Leipzig.

The visitors arrive after a 5-0 win over Hamburg and have scored nine goals in their opening three league games. Antonio Nusa has been particularly influential, while Ridle Baku has already contributed two goals. But Leverkusen have reasons to believe they can match that attacking threat, particularly at home.

There is history here, too.

Leverkusen's most recent Bundesliga meeting with Leipzig ended in a 4-1 victory at the BayArena, with Schick scoring a hat-trick. The striker produced nine shots that afternoon, a personal Bundesliga record, as Leverkusen eventually won comfortably.

That result is not a guarantee of anything on Sunday, particularly with both clubs now under new management and reshaping their squads. But it provides a useful reminder of what Leverkusen can produce when their attacking pieces click.

And that is the intriguing part of this fixture.

Die Roten Bullen have arrived at this stage of the season with plenty of attacking momentum. Leverkusen have something slightly different: evidence that their new team is beginning to find its own rhythm.

Three Bundesliga games have already brought 10 goals for Die Werkself, while the 4-0 victory over Union showed the potential of their attack and the Augsburg draw demonstrated their ability to keep pushing even after the game had turned against them.

Sunday offers another test, but it is one Leverkusen can approach with ambition rather than caution. At the centre of it stands Schick, facing a club he knows well from his 2019/20 loan spell.

He scored 10 goals in 22 Bundesliga appearances for Leipzig then. Now, with the BayArena behind him and another strong start to a season underway, he has a chance to make his former club part of Leverkusen's next step forward.