GELSENKIRCHEN - Chelsea need just one win from their remaining two games to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League after a goalless draw against Schalke in Gelsenkirchen.
Didier Drogba wasted three clear-cut chances to provide Chelsea with a victory that would have assured them a place in the next phase after Rosenborg's shock win over Valencia in Spain.
But the Londoners also rode their luck with Schalke twice hitting the woodwork in the second half of a lacklustre clash in the Veltins-Arena.
Drogba wasted the first of his chances as early as the fifth minute.
Mladen Krstajic had sliced his attempted clearance straight at Michael Essien and when the ball was played into the path of Drogba, a goal seemed certain.
But the Ivorian striker was denied an opener by the agility of Manuel Neuer who dived low to his right to tip the ball around the post.
Chelsea had dominated the early stages but Schalke produced two long-range shots within a minute to test Petr Cech.
In the 18th minute Mesut Ozil forced the Czech international to dive low to his left to gather his speculative 20-yard effort, and moments later Cech fumbled a drive from Heiko Westermann which ran out for a corner.
The English side enjoyed the larger share of the possession but the attacking flair which had blossomed under coach Avram Grant in the last few weeks was sadly lacking.
Westermann then brought another fine save from Cech when he ran unchecked towards the Chelsea goal before unleashing a 25-yard drive.
Chelsea had a lucky escape in the 27th minute when Juliano Belletti had to clear off the goalline after Cech had fumbled a corner straight to the feet of Westermann.
Amid all the frenetic activity, Cech collected an injury which caused some concern for the bench until he was given permission to continue.
The English team were now hanging on and could find no respite from Schalke's persistent attacks.
When they did get another chance to turn the game their way, it was Drogba who wasted it yet again.
He fluffed his second clear-cut chance in the 41st minute when a mazy run from Joe Cole put the Chelsea striker in the clear.
But once again Neuer was equal to the task and the Schalke keeper pushed the ball to safety.
Chelsea lost goalkeeper Cech during the interval and he was replaced by Carlo Cudicini.
The Czech had clearly not recovered from the knock on the shin he sustained in the opening half.
The Veltins-Arena was packed to capacity with the home fans passionately urging their side to take the game to Chelsea.
But Asamoah brought down Malouda in full flight in the 49th minute to allow Frank Lampard to win a corner from the resulting free-kick.
The home side turned defence into attack within seconds when a long ball from Rakitic found Ozil up against Belletti.
The Schalke striker showed Belletti a clean pair of heels but sent his shot straight at Cudicini.
Chelsea were finding it difficult to get out of their own half as Schalke continued to apply pressure on the visiting defence.
In the 57th minute, Rakitic tested Cudicini at his near post with an angled drive and the Italian keeper had to scramble the ball away to safety.
On the hour a corner from Schalke substitute Peter Lovenkrands caused chaos in the Chelsea penalty area and Cudicini completely missed the ball under a challenge from Asamoah.
Chelsea made a substitution of their own in the 63rd minute when Mikel John Obi replaced Belletti.
It meant Essien switching to right-back to accommodate the Nigerian international in midfield.
The Blues were far from their best and remained lucky to be on level terms.
Indeed, Grant's side looked happier to settle for a point as they contentedly played the ball around the back four and the midfield instead of going forward.
It was not the all-out attacking that Grant's men had demonstrated over the last few weeks and Drogba, Malouda and Cole had shown little throughout the game.
Chelsea escaped again in the 69th minute when Rafinha's deflected shot came back off the crossbar.
In the 76th minute, Drogba made a hat-trick of wasted chances when he was again in the clear but sent his shot straight at Neuer.
In the 87th minute Rakitic put Lovenkrands away but his angled drive beat Cudicini and rebounded to safety off the left-hand upright as Chelsea rode their luck to claim a point.
