I SCORED HAT-TRICK AGAINST MADRID & WE LOST!

ARSENAL legend Charlie George once scored a hat-trick against Real Madrid in Europe - and finished on the losing side.

- BY MIKE WALTERS

And as the Gunners prepare for tomorrow's acid test in the Bernabeu cauldron, George warned: "I've been telling them it's not over."

Fifty years ago, after Dave Mackay led Derby County to the title, the Rams hammered Real 4-1 in the European Cup second round at the Baseball Ground in October 1975.

George, who famously scored the FA Cup final extra-time winner against Liverpool in Arsenal's 1970-71 Double season, was Derby's hat-trick hero.

Although he scored again in the return leg, Real forced extra time thanks to a hugely contentious penalty and went on to win 5-1 - and George has never forgotten the night glory slipped away in one of European football's great citadels.