AP

London, Apr. 22 : Chelsea climbed into the top four of the Premier League with a far-from-impressive 0-0 draw against Brighton on Tuesday.

Thomas Tuchel’s side was stifled inside Stamford Bridge, barely creating a clear-cut chance against the relegation-threatened visitors who nearly snatched victory in the final 15 minutes as Danny Welbeck struck the post.
Defender Ben White was sent off in stoppage time for Brighton after collecting a second yellow card.

The point moved Chelsea above West Ham on goal difference and into fourth place, the final Champions League qualification position. Chelsea and West Ham play each other on Saturday.

Brighton moved seven points clear of the relegation zone and has a game in hand over third-from-last Fulham.

Schalke relegated
Schalke was finally relegated from the Bundesliga after a dismal season with a 1-0 loss at Arminia Bielefeld on Tuesday, when Bayern Munich closed in on another title.

Bayern is just one win away from a record-extending ninth consecutive championship after it capitalized on second-place Leipzig’s shock 2-1 loss at Cologne and moved 10 points clear at the top with a 2-0 win at home over Bayer Leverkusen.

The Bavarian powerhouse can seal the title with a win at Mainz on Saturday. “Now we’re very close. Even if the season didn’t go quite to plan, we can grab the championship. That’s the main target,” Joshua Kimmich said.

Fabian Klos’ 50th-minute goal was enough for Bielefeld to deal Schalke its 21st defeat in 30 games. Schalke had been playing in the Bundesliga continuously since earning promotion in 1991. It’s the quickest of the Gelsenkirchen-based club’s four demotions with four games still to play.

Bayern wasted no time against Leverkusen. Alphonso Davies was involved before David Alaba crossed for Thomas Müller to draw a good save from Lukas Hradecky. But the rebound fell to Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who hammered home a volley in the eighth minute.

Leverkusen defender Daley Sinkgraven then laid the ball off for Joshua Kimmich to fire inside the left post five minutes later.

It another boost for the club, Leon Goretzka returned from injury when he came on for Müller in the 63rd.

Cologne captain Jonas Hector scored twice for Cologne to upset Leipzig 2-1 and boost its chances of survival. Also, Eintracht Frankfurt consolidated fourth place and the last spot for Champions League qualification with a 2-0 win over Augsburg.

Fiorentina boost survival chances
Fiorentina won 2-1 at Hellas Verona in Serie A on Tuesday to boost its chances of avoiding relegation.

A first-half Dušan Vlahović penalty and a Martín Cáceres goal against his former team secured the win for Fiorentina although Eddie Salcedo’s header 18 minutes from time set up a nervy finale.

Fiorentina moved eight points above the relegation zone, ahead of the rest of the midweek games. Verona remained safely in mid-table despite its sixth defeat in seven matches.