Germany: Bundesliga
FT
3 - 6
(1 - 2)
Greuther Fürth
Hoffenheim
J. Leweling (22), T. Tillman (46), M. Meyerhöfer (66), B. Hrgota (67)
I. Bebou (32), G. Rutter (40), G. Rutter (57), I. Bebou (62), I. Bebou (80)
By Peter Weis@PeterVicey

Raum wishes former club Fürth well after crossing paths: "I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for them."

Nürnberg native David Raum homecoming to the club where he began his footballing career in 2006 as a youth academy player came with a bitter twist. 

Raum set-up directly set up two goals on the day. Additionally, the German national team defender's corner in the 66th minute ended up ultimately being turned into Fürth's own net by former friend and teammate Marco Meyerhöfer. 

Speaking to the Sky microphones afterward, the 23-year-old spoke on the state of his former club. 
David Raum.
David Raum.Photo: TSG Hoffenheim
David Raum certainly maintains fond memories of his days at SpVgg Greuther Fürth. The current German national team left-back, in the club's youth academy since 2006, broke through with the Kleeblätter during the 2019/20 campaign under current Fürth trainer Stefan Leitl. Raum actually found himself converted from an attacker to a dangerous fullback under Leitl the team during their rise to the top flight.

"Since I got regular playing time at Fürth, I was able to develop," Raum noted in an interview earlier this week. Asked by journalists about facing his former club for prep pieces throughout the week, the current Hoffenheim fullback had plenty of praise for his former trainer.

In the totally wild affair that was Firth-Hoffenheim this Saturday, Raum's played a vital role in several of Hoffenheim's nine-goals. His corner kick in the 66th also ended up leading to the Marco Meyerhöfer goal that effectively put the game out of reach for the hosting Middle Franconians.

The 23-year-old's rapid rise has been nothing short of meteoric. After chipping in 15 assists last year during Fürth's promotion campaign, Raum was signed by the Kraichgauer this offseason. His performance with his new Bundesliga club, along with the call-ups to the national team senior side by Hansi Flick have pushed his market value to an estimated €8.5 million.

With just one point through 13 Bundesliga match days, the Fürth coaching/managerial team were left to lament another brutal loss at home on Saturday. Sporting director Rachid Azzouzi remarked that "every defeat feels like shit."

"If we score three goals, that has to be enough in the Bumndesliga," head-coach Leitl remarked afterward, "Our back-line simply isn't Bundesliga capable."

As for an arguably crucial missing part of that back-line, Raum remained stoic about his former club even as he himself commemorated a fantastic day.

"I've been following them all season," Raum noted, "Of course it's disappointing, but I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for them."

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