LONDON, Feb 23: Eintracht Frankfurt and Nice kept a tight grip on fourth place in the Bundesliga and Ligue 1 respectively while Real Sociedad final Basque Country derby to be played at San Mames Stadium on Friday.

Eintracht drew 0-0 at Freiburg to hold off the home side’s challenge for the Bundesliga's last Champions League place to move to 38 points from 23 games, three ahead of Freiburg.

“The draw was fair,” Frankfurt coach Armin Veh said. “We didn’t allow anything in the first half, Freiburg were better in the second.”

The visitors were the better team in the first half but lacked the final pass to break down the Freiburg defence and not even the introduction of Canadian forward Oliver Occean in the second period could liven up the Eintracht attack.

Fifth-placed Freiburg, eyeing their first involvement in European competition for 12 years, were twice denied by Eintracht defender Stefano Celozzi when he denied Jan Rosenthal and Matthias Ginter with goal-line clearances.

In France, Nice moved closer to a Champions League spot when they closed the gap with third-placed Olympique Marseille to a point by beating promoted Stade Reims 2-0 at home.

Valentin Eysseric put the hosts in front from the penalty spot in the 11th minute and centre back Renato Civelli headed his fourth of the season with five minutes to go as Nice moved to 45 points from 26 games.

The southern club, 13th in the Ligue 1 table last season with 42 points, are hot on the heels of Marseille, who occupy the last Champions League qualifying spot and visit leaders Paris St Germain on Sunday.

“We have been in fourth or fifth place for a little while now so it gives us the will to stay there,” Nice forward Eric Bautheac told French channel beIN Sport. “It's early to talk about Europe but if we are still in the position to qualify in the last five games, we'll give it everything.”

Real Sociedad leapfrogged Valencia to move into fifth place in La Liga after coming from a goal down to win 3-1 at Athletic Bilbao.

Bilbao bossed the opening stages of the match and went ahead through Ibai Gomez's vicious volley at the half-hour mark.

But Antoine Griezmann headed Sociedad level four minutes later, and striker Imanol Agirretxe then gave the visitors the lead in the 66th thanks to an error by goalkeeper Raul Fernandez before substitute Carlos Vela added another goal 10 minutes later.

Inaugurated in 1913, San Mames is scheduled to be torn down after 100 years and replaced by a new stadium at the end of this season.

“It's been a long time since we won here but we knew it was possible and we are very pleased,” Sociedad captain Xabi Prieto told Marca TV.

“We weren't expecting to be in this position in the table but we want to hold on to it now and continue this very positive run and see if we can qualify for Europe.”

Sociedad, the only side to beat leaders Barcelona this season, have 40 points from 25 matches with Valencia level on points but with a game in hand.—Agencies