Ajax given ‘fantastic’ Champions League draw, three other clubs to learn fate

Ajax coach Alfred Schreuder has said his team were given a ‘fantastic draw’ in the Champions League after they were placed in Group A with Liverpool, Napoli and Rangers.

‘I think Liverpool are probably the favourites in the group,’ he said after the group stages were finalised in Istanbul on Thursday. ‘[But] Napoli didn’t finish third in Serie A last season by accident and Rangers showed against PSV that they’re a good team with a good coach.’

The Scottish side, coached by former Dutch international and former Feyenoord boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst, are playing in the group stages for the first time in 12 years after knocking out PSV on Wednesday.

In the Europa League, Feyenoord and PSV will learn their opponents in Friday’s draw. Both teams are in pot 2, meaning they will draw one of the top seeds that include AS Roma, Lazio, Manchester United and Arsenal.

AZ Alkmaar will be in the hat for the UEFA Conference League after cruising through the away leg of their play-off tie against Gil Vicente, winning 2-1 to rack up a 6-1 aggregate score.

Arrests in Enschede

But FC Twente will not be joining them after they were knocked out 2-1 by Italian side Fiorentina. Police made 11 arrests around Twente’s stadium in Enschede on Thursday night as rival fans clashed in the aftermath of the 0-0 draw.

Police said the arrests were made for violent disorder, assault, vandalism and carrying weapons. An emergency order was in place following earlier scuffles on Wednesday evening.