Madrid’s tour of the Far East saw them defeat four teams who would struggle to win on a Sunday morning on Hackney marshes, but Valencia showed that despite Madrid’s staggering array of attacking talent, La Liga will be a different story and that every point will have to be won by gallons of sweat.

Although he never stopped working, Beckham struggled to get into the game and found his contribution limited to closing down spaces and showing his more workmanlike qualities against a Valencia side that had only two new faces in their line-up and who played almost by memory.

“I felt very tired as we have had a hard week of work,” Beckham told the club’s official website. “We have to improve, although there were moments in which we blended well.”

The game also served to show just how important want-away midfielder Claude Makelele is to Real if Carlos Queiroz wants to play a diamond formation in midfield.

With Makelele absent, Queiroz opted for a straight change, drafting Esteban Cambiasso into central midfield, playing Luis Figo on the left, Zinedine Zidane at the head of a diamond formation and Beckham on the right.

It was a brave move from Queiroz, against a Valencia side that was able to count on Spanish international pairing of David Albelda and Ruben Baraja in the middle of the park and talented winger Vicente Rodriguez on the left.

Albelda and Baraja quickly showed their understanding, squeezing Cambiasso and forcing Beckham to either drop inside to aid his over-stretched companion, or help Michel Salgado close down the tricky Vicente.

Consequently Beckham’s attacking contributions were limited to a knockdown for Ronaldo to set up Figo for a shot that was well saved by Valencia keeper Andres Palop and a corner that was easily cleared by the home defence.

As the frustration got to him, the England captain earned himself a booking for a rash challenge on Vicente, which left the winger rolling in agony after feeling Beckham’s studs connect with the inside of his ankle.

However, Beckham showed his character in the face of some booing from the home fans and could have given Madrid the lead four minutes before the break with a powerful half volley from the edge of the area that Palop did well to parry.

A Madrid goal would have been harsh on Valencia, however, who enjoyed the better of the game only to be frustrated by a combination of the woodwork and Madrid keeper Iker Casillas.

And Beckham’s serious expression as he trooped off at the break was easy to understand.

Queiroz moved Beckham inside to aid Cambiasso in the second half, but as Valencia continued to have the upper hand the former Manchester United star was replaced by Guti after 63 minutes – the first of Queiroz’s substitutions.

It was the earliest he has been substituted in Madrid’s five games to date and the sign for both sides to begin a carrousel of changes that surprisingly did little to disrupt the pace of the game which went to a penalty shoot-out after no one found the back of the net.