Club Brugge need only a point from their final Group J clash against Toulouse to make it through to the last 32 of the Europa League after holding already-qualified Shakhtar Donetsk to a goalless draw at the Donbass Arena.

Adrie Koster's side boasted a three-point lead over third-placed Toulouse at the start of play, and although the French outfit recorded a 1-0 win over Partizan Belgrade tonight, Brugge's draw in Ukraine means they still have the upper hand heading into their final match at home to the Ligue 1 side.

Last year's UEFA Cup winners Shakhtar came into the match having guaranteed their place in the next round with four successive wins in Group J, including a 4-1 mauling of Brugge in their opening match.

Mircea Lucescu's men were unable to keep their 100% record going tonight, but they at least secured themselves top spot with neither Brugge or Toulouse now able to catch them.

The home side were the first to seriously threaten when, in the 16th minute, Brazilian playmaker Jadson saw his effort tipped around the post by visiting goalkeeper Stijn Stijnen.

Brugge created their first opening soon after that, with Shakhtar goalkeeper Andrei Pyatov needing to be alert to push Ivan Perisic's header over for a corner.

That was in the 19th minute, and seven minutes later Pyatov was called into action again to keep out Wesley Sonck's header as the experienced Belgium international tried his best to put his side ahead.

Both goalkeepers were excelling, with Stijnen parrying an effort from Junior at the start of the second to keep Brugge on level terms, before Pyatov again denied Sonck.

Shakhtar enjoyed a purple patch just after the hour when they threatened three times in quick succession, but Jadson and Tomas Hubschman failed to hit the target with two of the shots while Stijnen pushed away Jadson's other effort.

The final chance of the match also fell to the home side, but Mariusz Lewandowski's injury-time header from Darijo Srna's cross cleared the crossbar as the game finished goalless.