London, August 30:

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

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

Joining Slavia in group stage were Arsenal, Valencia, Werder Bremen, former champions Steaua Bucharest and Benfica, Rosenborg, Ukraine clubs 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.

Sevilla will play at AEK Athens on Monday. Tuesday’s match was postponed after the death of Sevilla midfielder Antonio Puerta from a heart attack and the devastating forest fires in Greece. Sevilla won the first leg 2-0.