London: Four-time European football champion Ajax failed to reach the European Champions League group stage for the second consecutive season, eliminated by Slavia Prague in qualifying.

Ajax lost 1-2 in Prague on Wednesday to two goals by Stanislav Vlcek and lost 3-1 on aggregate. Ajax lost to FC Copenhagen at the same qualifying stage last year.

Joining Slavia in Thursday’s group stage draw were 2006 runners-up Arsenal, Valencia, Werder Bremen, Steaua Bucharest and Benfica, Rosenborg, Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kiev and Turkey’s Besiktas and Fenerbahce.

Celtic prevailed over Spartak Moscow 4-3 on penalty kicks after finishing 1-1 in Glasgow for a 2-2 aggregate score.