Raimondo hat-trick fires Frosinone to 4-2 win over Sassuolo

Antonio Raimondo scored a first-career hat-trick as Frosinone beat Sassuolo 4-2 at home in Serie A on 16 October. Giacomo Calo opened the scoring in the ninth minute, and Raimondo added goals in the 26th, 30th and 57th minutes to seal the result.

Sassuolo replied through Domenico Berardi, assisted by Darryl Bakola in the 15th minute, and Kristian Thorstvedt in the 37th, but Frosinone’s lead was never seriously threatened. The hosts finished with 21 shots to Sassuolo’s 14, and an xG of 2.12 against 1.94.

Raimondo reflects on a career milestone

Speaking to media after the match, Raimondo described it as a game he would not forget. He said he had always dreamed of scoring three goals in a single Serie A game, but that making it happen was still a special experience.

He was careful not to read too much into the performance. He noted that only seven games had been played out of 38, and that there was still a great deal of work to do and areas to improve. He called the current form a good start, nothing more.

When a comparison was drawn to Raphinha and Yamal, Raimondo said the comparison was flattering but that their level was very high. He said he would focus only on himself and try to perform at his best in every game.

Gratitude to Alvini and the club

Raimondo credited manager Alvini directly, saying the coach had helped him grow since bringing him to the club and that he was happy for that support. He also thanked the entire coaching staff for their daily work with him.

He added that the club’s sporting director deserved credit too, pointing out that the director had signed him even after a difficult previous season. Raimondo said that made the results feel partly theirs as well.

On the subject of a call-up to the Italy senior squad, Raimondo said the decision was not his to make. He said he would give everything for Frosinone, and that if the invitation ever came he would respond positively, but for now his focus was entirely on the club. He described a place in the national team as a dream he hoped to realise one day.

The celebration and what it meant

Raimondo’s goal celebration drew attention after the match, with some linking it to a gesture used by former Frosinone player Ciccio Loddo. Raimondo explained that the celebration actually dated back to the final matchday of last season, when he was with friends from Salerno.

He said he had originally intended to dedicate a goal to his girlfriend and had planned a celebration for her, but had not managed it at the time. After the hat-trick on 16 October, he dedicated the goals to his parents and to the friends who had travelled to the ground to watch.