Amsterdam football club Ajax, which came second in the Dutch Eredivisie this season and so play in the third qualifying round for the Champions League, will avoid top clubs such as Manchester United and Valencia.

This ‘protected status’ is due to Lazio’s 4-2 win over Napoli in the Italian premier league, which put Napoli out of the Champions League, benefiting Ajax.

Ajax will now face either Sparta Prague, Young Boys, Panathinaikos, Fenerbache or Rapid Vienna after the draw on July 17 in the third round play-offs, broadcaster Nos reports.

PSV Eindhoven, as Eredivisie champions, automatically qualify for the Champions League and are included in pot one for the draw. This means the Dutch club will avoid the likes of Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Chelsea and Paris Saint Germain at the group stage.

Meanwhile, Arnhem side Vitesse has clinched the final Dutch place in next season’s Europa League play-offs after beating Heerenveen by a convincing 5-2 in the second leg of their play-off.

Vitesse join KNVB Cup winners FC Groningen and AZ of Alkmaar in the competition.