Chelsea beat Newcastle United 2-0 on Monday to go level on points with leaders Manchester United and send the Premier League title race down to the last day of the season.

Michael Ballack, who scored both goals in the 2-1 win over United on April 26 that opened up the championship, glanced in a header after an hour and fellow midfielder Florent Malouda made it safe late on.

The result sets up a grandstand finish next Sunday -- 10 days before Chelsea and Manchester United meet in the Champions League final in Moscow.

United, 4-1 home winners over West Ham United and Chelsea both have 84 points but United have a goal difference advantage of 17. They visit Wigan Athletic next week and will retain the title if they at least match Chelsea's result against Bolton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge.

It was by no means plain sailing for Chelsea on Monday at a ground where they had not won in the league since 2001. Newcastle went into the game in great form and looked the more enterprising team in a tight first half with Michael Owen having a shot cleared off the line by John Terry.

Chelsea control after the break with Terry smacking a header against the bar as they camped in the home side's half. The breakthrough came when Didier Drogba chipped in a free kick from the right and Ballack, who built his reputation in Germany as a regular scorer of important, late goals, rose high to direct his header beyond keeper Steve Harper.

But the tension eased after 82nd minute when some slick passing ended with substitute Frank Lampard slipping a through-ball to Malouda, who slotted home calmly.