Ghedjemis and the art of the assist hat-trick

From zero to three in a single night. Farès Ghedjemis chose the trip to Bergamo to steal the spotlight and surge up the Serie A Enilive assist charts. The Algerian Frosinone winger had yet to register an assist heading into Matchday 8, but set up three goals against Atalanta, becoming the first player in Frosinone's history to provide more than two assists in a single Serie A match.

It was a dazzling display from one of the key figures behind Frosinone's promotion. Last season, Ghedjemis played a leading role in the Giallazzurri's success, scoring 15 goals and providing three assists in Serie B, with his unpredictability proving a valuable asset in Massimiliano Alvini's system. This time, he matched that assist tally in just one top-flight match, making his mark on Serie A in spectacular fashion.

At the Gewiss Stadium, Ghedjemis set up Schmid in the 17th minute, Calò in the 48th and Terzić in the 82nd, spreading his three assists across the match and creating goals for three different teammates. His performance was further highlighted by six key passes, seven crosses and 20 successful passes in the final third, figures that underline his consistent attacking threat and earned him the PANINI Player Of The Match award.

The Algerian also went in search of his first Serie A goal, registering four shots on target, including a late effort denied by Carnesecchi. After a start to the season in which much of the attention had been on Raimondo, Calò and Kvernadze, Ghedjemis has firmly reestablished himself as a key figure in Alvini's Frosinone side. His ability to receive the ball out wide, take on defenders and create numerical advantages adds another dimension to the attack of a newly promoted team that continues to exceed expectations.

From zero to three in one match: Jović and Ansaldi set the precedent

What makes Ghedjemis' achievement even more remarkable is not just the number of assists, but the fact that they were his first three in Serie A, all delivered in the same match. It is a rare feat, with at least two notable precedents in recent Serie A history.

The most recent came from Luka Jović, who starred in Fiorentina's 5-0 victory over Sampdoria on April 30th, 2023. The Serbian striker provided three assists for Dodô, Duncan and Terzić, opening his Serie A assist account in spectacular fashion.

The name Aleksa Terzić provides an intriguing link between the two matches. The Serbian defender, then playing for Fiorentina, scored his first Serie A goal against Sampdoria from a Jović assist. Three and a half years later, in Bergamo, he netted his second goal in the competition, this time courtesy of Ghedjemis.

Earlier still, on January 17th, 2016, Cristian Ansaldi provided three assists in Genoa's 4-0 win over Palermo. The Argentine, in his first season in Italy, set up Leonardo Pavoletti twice and Tomás Rincón once, registering his first three Serie A assists in a single match.

From Dybala to Leão: Serie A's greatest assist hat-tricks

Ghedjemis is not the first player to register three assists in a single match this season. Paulo Dybala had already achieved the feat in Roma's 4-0 win over Fiorentina, setting up all three of Donyell Malen's goals as the striker completed his hat-trick.

Two Inter players also reached the three-assist mark last season. Federico Dimarco did so in a commanding 5-0 victory away to Sassuolo on February 8th, 2026, during a record-breaking season for assists. Earlier in the campaign, on October 4th, 2025, Ange-Yoan Bonny stole the show in Inter's 4-1 win over Cremonese. Making his first Serie A start for the Nerazzurri, he contributed a goal and three assists, playing a direct part in all four goals.

Another unforgettable display came from Domenico Berardi, who scored once and set up three more as Sassuolo stunned AC Milan 5-2 at San Siro on January 29th, 2023. His performance brings to mind another of the most memorable assist hat-tricks in recent Serie A history, this time with the home and away roles reversed.

On May 22nd, 2022, in the final match of the season, Rafael Leão delivered three assists as AC Milan claimed a 3-0 away victory over Sassuolo to clinch their 19th Scudetto. The Portuguese winger set up Giroud twice and Kessié once, with all three assists coming between the 17th and 36th minutes. Three decisive contributions in under 20 minutes, in the match that secured the league title.

An equally remarkable performance came from Emanuel Vignato in Bologna's 3-3 draw with Fiorentina on May 2nd, 2021. Just 20 years old at the time, the Rossoblù attacking midfielder provided all three assists for Rodrigo Palacio, who, at 39 years and 86 days, became the oldest player in Serie A history to score a hat-trick. It was a striking combination of youth and experience, with Vignato creating every goal for the veteran Argentine striker.

In 2018, Douglas Costa showed that a player need not be in the starting line-up to make a decisive impact. Coming on for Pjanić in the 43rd minute of Juventus vs. Sampdoria, the Brazilian set up goals for Mandžukić, Höwedes and Khedira between the 45th and 74th minutes, inspiring the Bianconeri to a 3-0 victory.

Just months earlier, on January 21st, 2018, Gastón Ramírez had provided all three assists in Sampdoria's 3-1 victory over Fiorentina, with Fabio Quagliarella converting each one to complete his hat-trick. Another memorable display built on the understanding between a creator and a goalscorer, with the same partnership delivering all three goals.

The race for the most assists heats up

Ghedjemis' outstanding display has also shaken up the Serie A assist standings. Dybala leads the way with four assists, a tally now matched by Inter's Andy Diouf, while eight players sit just behind them on three apiece.

Among them is fellow Algerian Rafik Belghali, who has made an impressive start to the season with Torino. The Granata midfielder has already contributed one goal and three assists, playing a decisive role in several matches. His contributions include setting up Ché Adams against Fiorentina and Simeone in the victory over Parma, as well as opening his Serie A goalscoring account against Monza.

The chasing pack features an intriguing mix of players, from attacking wingers such as Zaccagni to midfielders like Rabiot and Schmid, the latter fresh from his first Serie A brace, and defenders including Miranda, Nuno Tavares and Danilo Veiga.

In an assist chart featuring players from across the pitch, Ghedjemis has made his mark in emphatic fashion. Three assists, three different goalscorers and a place in Frosinone's history: with one outstanding performance in Bergamo, the Algerian announced his arrival as a creative force in Serie A.