Schalke 04 lose ground in top-four race with Augsburg stalemate

Schalke 04 missed the chance to move within six points of the Champions League qualification places after being held to a 0-0 draw away to Augsburg.

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The visitors started brightly and perhaps should have moved ahead after 10 minutes when Joel Matip rose highest to plant a firm header just wide of the post.

With clear-cut chances at a premium for much of the half, Augsburg spurned a golden opportunity to snatch a half-time lead when Raul Bobadilla fired wide on 44 minutes.

The pendulum swung Schalke's way once more on 54 minutes when the usually-lethal Klaas Jan Huntelaar fluffed his lines in a one-on-one with Marwin Hitz.

Both sides continued to cancel each other out, but Kevin-Prince Boateng nearly snatched all three points for the visitors when he blazed narrowly wide of the right post from a good position.

As a consequence of the result, Roberto Di Matteo's side stay fifth in the Bundesliga, eight points behind Bayer Leverkusen.