Compete with four in Germany, right away (3)
I believe the answer is:
vie
'compete with' is the definition.
(to vie with someone is to compete with them)
'four in germany right away' is the wordplay.
'four in germany' becomes 'vier' ('four' in German).
'right' becomes 'r' (abbreviation).
'away' suggests deleting specific letters.
'vier' with 'r' removed is 'VIE'.
(Other definitions for vie that I've seen before include "I've got to compete" , "contest" , "Eagerly compete" , "Strive in French way?" , "Jockey" .)