Antonio Raimondo has taken Serie A by surprise.
The 22-year-old Italian striker scored his first top-flight hat-trick as Frosinone defeated Sassuolo 4–2, taking his tally to seven goals in seven league appearances and moving to the top of the Serie A scoring charts.
It was a historic night at the Stadio Benito Stirpe. Raimondo became the first Frosinone player to score a hat-trick in Serie A, delivering three goals that helped secure another important victory for Massimiliano Alvini’s side.
Giacomo Calò opened the scoring before Domenico Berardi equalised for Sassuolo. Raimondo then struck twice in four minutes, capitalising on two mistakes by goalkeeper Arijanet Murić to restore Frosinone’s advantage. Kristian Thorstvedt reduced the deficit before half-time, but Raimondo completed his hat-trick in the 57th minute to seal the victory.
His remarkable start has included doubles against Fiorentina and Venezia, followed by three goals against Sassuolo. Seven goals in seven appearances have placed the Bologna-owned forward ahead of some of the most established names in Italian football.
The achievement represents an important step in a career that has required patience. Developed at Bologna and shaped by loan spells away from his parent club, Raimondo arrived at Frosinone looking for the consistent playing time needed to fulfil his potential. Under Alvini, he has become the focal point of an attack that is helping the newly promoted club exceed expectations.
Frosinone have now collected 13 points from their opening seven matches, establishing themselves among Serie A’s early surprises. Raimondo’s finishing has been central to that progress, but his performances have also demonstrated the confidence of a forward beginning to establish himself at the highest level.
At 22, the Italy Under-21 international is leading the scoring race in one of Europe’s most demanding leagues. What began as an opportunity to establish himself in Serie A has become one of the standout stories of the season’s opening weeks.
