Barcelona ties Madrid as Figo pelted with projectiles

FC Barcelona and Real Madrid played to a scoreless draw Saturday in a Spanish league match that was suspended for 13 minutes after Madrid midfielder Luis Figo was pelted with projectiles from the crowd.

The match was halted in the 73rd minute after Figo, who used to play for Barcelona, was repeatedly prevented from taking corner kicks.

Figo, whose transfer from Barcelona in July 2000 enraged Barcelona supporters, was repeatedly whistled by the crowd of 98,000 during his second appearance at his former stadium for Madrid.

In the 70th minute, Figo twice attempted to take a corner on the left side of the field but walked away when a hail of projectiles from the crowd rained down upon him.

Play was halted for three minutes before the Portuguese could eventually take the corner.

Home goalkeeper Roberto Bonano tipped Figo's kick over the bar, resulting in a new corner on the other side.

After Figo moved toward the flag, a heavier flurry of missiles was aimed at him, leading Madrid's players to walk to midfield in protest.

Referee Luis Medina Cantalejo led both sets of players off the field moments later with players coming back out 13 minutes later.

In other matches Saturday, league leader Real Sociedad maintained its unbeaten record this season with a 0-0 draw at Rayo Vallecano, while Deportivo de La Coruna tied 1-1 at Sevilla.

Sociedad has 23 points, two ahead of Mallorca. Madrid moved up to fourth place with 18 points, behind No. 3 Valencia on goal difference but ahead of No. 5 Deportivo. Betis and Celta have 17 points. Barcelona moved into eighth with 16 points.