Over in Monaco, the draw for this season's UEFA Champions League has been held. Holders Real Madrid will be pleased with the outcome with the three-time defending champs finding themselves in one of the easier groups. Their former talisman Cristiano Ronaldo and his Juventus side are placed in the same pool as another one of his old clubs, Manchester United. Damion Jones tells us more.

Count Real Madrid among the ranks of those ecstatic about their luck in Monaco. The 13-time UEFA Champions League winners are in Group G with CSKA Moscow, Roma, and Viktoria Plzen in this season's continental competition, as they seek a fourth straight title. But arch-rivals Barcelona will be in for a much tougher time in Group B, where they take on Inter Milan, PSV Eindhoven, and Tottenham Hotspur. And Cristiano Ronaldo's debut campaign with Juventus will see his new side facing old club Manchester United in Group H, alongside Valencia and Young Boys.

Last spring's runners-up, Liverpool, appear to have a difficult slate in Group C, which includes Napoli, Paris Saint-Germain, and Red Star Belgrade. The team considered the early favorites, Manchester City, will go up against Hoffenheim, Lyon, and Shakhtar Donetsk in Group F. And Bayern Munich have cause to be confident about reaching the knockout phase once again, as their opposition in Group E consists of Ajax, Benfica, and AEK Athens.

The gala on the Riviera also featured the latest edition of the UEFA Club Football Awards, with Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric named Player of the Year ahead of Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah, Antoine Griezmann, and Lionel Messi. The 32-year-old helped Los Blancos win the continental championship for the third consecutive season, and on the international front, led Croatia to the FIFA World Cup Final.

The Women's Player of the Year is Wolfsburg forward Pernille Harder. The Dane helped her club close out last spring as European runners-up, with the German squad falling just short in the final against French side Lyon. In addition, former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham was presented with the UEFA President's Award, in recognition of his career achievements and humanitarian efforts.

The first games in the group stage of this season's UEFA Champions League will be held on September 18th and 19th. Damion Jones CGTN.