Leverkusen hold on to fourth spot despite draw at Schalke

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Schalke 04 v Bayer Leverkusen - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - June 14, 2020 Schalke's Daniel Caligiuri scores their first goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Ina Fassbender/Pool via REUTERS

Bayer Leverkusen came from a goal down to snatch a 1-1 draw at Schalke 04 on Sunday as they held on to fourth place in the Bundesliga with three games left and stayed on track for a Champions League spot.

The draw lifted them to 57 points, one ahead of fifth-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach while injury-plagued Schalke, missing 10 players, set a club record by failing to win for the 13th consecutive league game.

The Royal Blues, however, looked much sharper than in recent weeks and worked hard for more than half the game. They earned a penalty following a VAR review in the 51st minute which captain Daniel Caligiuri converted.

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Schalke 04 v Bayer Leverkusen - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - June 14, 2020 Schalke's Juan Miranda looks dejected after the match, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Ina Fassbender/Pool via REUTERS

Yet they dropped back instantly and allowed Leverkusen far too much space. The visitors' persistent pressure paid off in the 81st minute when Schalke defender Juan Miranda, under pressure, turned a Wendell cutback into his own net.

Leverkusen should have scored again through Lucas Alario and Charles Aranguiz as Schalke, in ninth place, ran out of steam.

The hosts could have snatched victory in the last action of the game but Michael Gregoritsch's point-blank header was saved by Lukas Hradecky.

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Schalke 04 v Bayer Leverkusen - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - June 14, 2020 Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba in action with Schalke's Daniel Caligiuri, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Ina Fassbender/Pool via REUTERS

"We did not have our best day today," said Leverkusen's Sven Bender. "The penalty made our life difficult but overall we were not pressing enough. So the result is fair because we did not deserve more."

Bayern Munich can clinch the title on Tuesday with a win at Werder Bremen. Borussia Dortmund are in second place, seven points behind on 66 points.

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Schalke 04 v Bayer Leverkusen - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - June 14, 2020 Schalke's Alexander Nuebel reacts after Juan Miranda scored an own goal and the first for Leverkusen, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Ina Fassbender/Pool via REUTERS

(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Toby Davis)

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Schalke 04 v Bayer Leverkusen - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - June 14, 2020 Leverkusen's Paulinho and Wendell celebrate after Schalke's Juan Miranda scored an own goal and the first for Leverkusen, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Ina Fassbender/Pool via REUTERS

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Schalke 04 v Bayer Leverkusen - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - June 14, 2020 Schalke's Daniel Caligiuri in action with Leverkusen's Sven Bender, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Ina Fassbender/Pool via REUTERS