Champions League draw pits Liverpool with PSG

Champions League runners-up Liverpool, Ligue 1 champions Paris St Germain and Serie A side Napoli were thrown together in the pick of the groups following the draw for this season’s Champions League, on Thursday.

The trio were drawn into Group C, alongside Red Star Belgrade, European Cup winners in 1991 and making their debut in the group stage.

Titleholders Real Madrid will face last season’s semi-finalists AS Roma plus CSKA Moscow and Viktoria Plzen in Group G.

Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo will face his former club Manchester United after they were drawn together in Group H that also includes Spanish side Valencia.

Inter Milan, back in the competition for the first time since 2011-12, face Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur and PSV Eindhoven in Group B, which features three former European champions.

Luka Modric of Real Madrid and Croatia received the accolade of Uefa Player of the Year in Monaco after his Champions League exploits.

Modric’s midfield skills helped Real to a third straight European crown and propelled Croatia to the World Cup final.

Modric also won the Uefa award for the best midfielder of last season.

● Uefa Champions League group stage, made in Monaco on Thursday: Group A: Atletico Madrid (ESP), Borussia Dort- mund (GER), Monaco (FRA), Club Brugge (BEL) Group B: Barcelona (ESP), Tottenham Hotspur (ENG), PSV Eindhoven (NED), Inter (ITA) Group C: Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Napoli (ITA), Liverpool (ENG), Red Star Belgrade (SRB) Group D: Lokomotiv Moscow (RUS), FC Porto (POR), Schalke 04 (GER), Galatasaray (TUR) Group E: Bayern Munich (GER), Benfica (POR), Ajax (NED), AEK Athens (GRE) Group F: Manchester City (ENG), Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR), Lyon (FRA), Hoffenheim (GER) Group G: Real Madrid (ESP), Roma (ITA), CSKA Moscow (RUS), Viktoria Plzen (CZE) Group H: Juventus (ITA), Manchester United (ENG), Valencia (ESP), Young Boys (SUI)