Sports Network News: CHAMPIONS LEAGUE REVIEW

Another enthralling season in the Champions League ended with the imperious Real Madrid defending their title by beating Juventus on Saturday night.

As so often, Cristiano Ronaldo was the star of the show, scoring twice in a resounding 4-1 victory that saw Zinedine Zidane's side become the first to retain the trophy in the modern era.

It was a fitting end to another Champions League season of high drama, jaw-dropping goals and matches that will stick long in the memory.

We take a look back at the best of the season just gone in Europe's foremost club competition.

Real Madrid lift the Champions League trophy after their win over Juventus on Saturday night

Zinedine Zidane's side made history by becoming the first to defend the Champions League

GOAL OF THE SEASON

There have been some crackers this season, from 30-yard rockets to sumptuous chips, but few would disagree that the best was left until last.

The goal Mario Mandzukic scored for Juventus in Saturday night's final must rank as one of the finest - if not THE finest - ever scored in a European final.

It was not only the delightfully ambitious overhead kick finish, executed with inch-perfect precision, but the stunning team move of passing and keepie-uppie that came before it.

Leonardo Bonucci's cross-field pass found Alex Sandro, who crossed first time for Gonzalo Higuain to touch the ball back to Mandzukic. When he controlled on his chest, there seemed little danger.

But somehow, with his back to goal and apparently losing his balance, the Croatian hooked the ball beyond goalkeeper Keylor Navas. This goal top a superb shortlist, with honorary mentions for Gareth Bale's stunning first-minute volley against Legia Warsaw, Mesut Ozil's individual goal against Ludogorets in Bulgaria and Radamel Falcao's delicious chip away to Manchester City.

Mario Mandzukic scores his stunning overhead kick for Juventus in the Cardiff final

The Juventus striker showed extraordinary athleticism to hook the ball into the net

The Croatian striker rounded off a brilliant Juventus team move with a moment of genius

Mandzukic drew Juventus level at 1-1, but they would ultimately be defeated 4-1 in the final

SAVE OF THE SEASON

We've seen some glorious saves as well, but the best was surely the triple save Atletico Madrid keeper Jan Oblak made against Bayer Leverkusen.

Although Atletico led this quarter-final tie 4-2 following the first leg, scores were goalless on a nervy night in the Vicente Calderon.

Midway through the second half, the German side were pushing for an away goal that may have made for an interesting finale. But the Slovenian wasn't having any of it, saving from Julian Brandt and then Kevin Volland twice in quick succession to keep his clean sheet.

It was a one-man show of defiance from Oblak when it seemed far easier for the opposition to score.

Other stand-out saves include the strong-wristed block produced by Bayern's Manuel Neuer to deny Ronaldo and the roly-poly stop made by Tottenham's Hugo Lloris against Bayer Leverkusen.

Jan Oblak pulls off one of the three quick-fire saves that denied Bayer Leverkusen

Hugo Lloris somehow kept out Bayer Leverkusen's Javier Hernandez by rolling along the line

PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON

When push comes to shove in the knockout stages of the Champions League, you want your best players to stand up and be counted.

And that's precisely what Cristiano Ronaldo did in Real's quarter-final with Bayern Munich back in April.

Not only did he score two crucial away goals in the Allianz Arena during the first leg, he took personal charge of the outcome when the second leg went to extra time.

Having already scored in normal time, Ronaldo struck twice more in an eventual 4-2 Real win, proving conclusively that he is the man for the biggest occasion.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored five of Real's six goals against Bayern in their quarter-final tie

HEARTBREAKING MOMENT OF THE SEASON

It seemed scripted that Juventus and their legendary 39-year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon would finally end their wait to lift the Champions League.

A succession of outstanding defensive performances saw them beat Porto, Barcelona and Monaco to reach the final in Cardiff.

And with this trophy the one glaring omission from Buffon's glittering CV, it surely was his time. But Ronaldo and Real had other ideas and the legendary Italian stopper was left looking absolutely crestfallen as the trophy bypassed him once again.

Fear not, however, as Buffon said he feels confident there is one more season in him as he desperately tries to get his hands on the famous trophy.

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon looks dejected at the end of the final

The legendary Italian keeper still hasn't lifted the famous Champions League trophy

SURPRISE PACKAGE OF THE SEASON

It's always brilliant when a swashbuckling young team come along and challenge Europe's established elite and that's precisely what we had with Monaco this season.

Leonardo Jardim's exciting side were a joy to watch, taking the game to some of the continent's more experienced teams without any fear whatsoever.

Fired by the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Radamel Falcao, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Fabinho and Bernardo Silva, they were more than happy to out-score teams.

They brilliantly sent Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund packing in the knockout stages before meeting their match in miserly Juventus, but had the consolation of a first French league win since 2000.

If they can somehow keep their talented squad together this season, they will certainly challenge again.

Monaco's team of bright young things left us thoroughly entertained this season

Tiemoue Bakayoko scores the header that sent Pep Guardiola's Manchester City crashing out

OVERACHIEVERS OF THE SEASON

Hats off to Leicester City, the people's Premier League champions who took Europe's top competition in their stride.

In the first-half of the campaign, their excellent performances in the Champions League were the complete opposite to woeful domestic form and probably saved Claudio Ranieri's job.

They topped a group that contained Porto, Copenhagen and Club Brugge, adapting to the pressures of the tournament without any problem. It looked as though a 2-1 away defeat to Sevilla in the last-16 might end their hopes, but Leicester, by now managed by Craig Shakespeare, stormed back to win 2-0 at home.

Ultimately they succumbed to wily Atletico Madrid in the last eight, but only after launching a bombardment of the Spanish club's goal in the second leg at the King Power. As they were in their miraculous Premier League title campaign, Leicester were a breath of fresh air for the Champions League this season.

Wes Morgan celebrates after scoring for Leicester in their last-16 victory over Sevilla

The Premier League champions were eventually beaten by Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid

HUMILIATION OF THE SEASON

There was a degree of inevitability about Arsenal being paired with Bayern Munich in the last-16, but few could have predicted the utter humiliation that followed for the Gunners.

Any lessons acquired from recent meetings with the elite sides at this stage of the Champions League were completely disregarded in a 5-1 first leg thrashing at the Allianz Arena.

Arjen Robben, Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller and Co made mincemeat of a callow-looking Arsenal team as the pressure mounted on Arsene Wenger. The ruthless German side then continued the embarrassment by repeating the scoreline in the return at the Emirates, running rings around the Premier League contenders.

At least Arsenal fans will be spared another humbling of this nature next season having failed to qualify for the competition.