Bellingham picked up the player of the month award for October before the game started and then proceeded to dominate his first game of November. He bobbed and weaved elegantly away from Rayo Vallecano opponents threading passes through gaps that were barely there.

He injured a shoulder diving low to control a ball with his chest and there was a lengthy delay as medical staff tried to pop it back into place. But it was not more than a Formula One pit stop as he quickly resumed his dominance.

Jude Bellingham ended the game with his shoulder in heavy strapping after an initial scare

Antonio Rudiger gets heated with Rayo Vallecano as they succeed in frustration Real Madrid

With one drag back he moved into space in the Rayo area away from three Rayo defenders and fired a shot just over Dimitrievski’s bar. Rayo’s keeper saved brilliantly from Joselu after Bellingham had found him in space.

The England midfielder was unhappy with some of the Rayo challenges in the first half and continued his complaints as the teams went off at half-time in a heated conversation with Pathe Ciss who had been fortunate not to be booked in the first 45 minutes.

The second half followed the pattern of the first half and Bellingham twice had his shoulder, now patched up, checked.

He was still Madrid’s most productive player and he moved deeper when Luka Modric went off with 20 minutes left.

Rodrygo had come on as Madrid moved back to 4-3-3 and he almost scored with his first touch from Bellingham’s pass.

Madrid’s fuse was shortening and Vinicius was booked for complaining that a foul was given against Eduardo Camavinga instead of for him after he was bundled over.

The visitors had given Kepa Arrizabalaga nothing to do but on 75 minutes Rayo’s old rockers Radamel Falcao and Bebe came on as they sensed a chance to nick something more than just a point.

They were almost facing 10 men when the cautioned Vinicius barged Izi Palazon off the ball and off the pitch. He escaped a second yellow.

Vallecano players celebrate a hard-working draw away against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu

Rudiger clashed with Florian Lejeune later in the game causing the referee to produce cards

Dimitrievski tried to get him sent off with a theatrical dive as Vinicius was trying to get the ball from him to take a corner but the referee booked the keeper for his acting.

Bellingham could now barely move his left arm as he ran, with his shoulder clearly bothering him. It didn’t stop him charging goalwards again and Oscar Trejo was booked for pulling him back grabbing his shirt but the collar.

Camavinga was also walking wounded and was replaced by Nacho, one of his eyes almost closed after a clash of heads.

There was one more late chance for Rodrygo but his flick was easily saved by the man-of-the-match Dimitrievski who celebrated on the final whistle as if his team had won all three points.

Madrid stay second in the table but are now two points behind Girona who won on Saturday.

Real Madrid striker Joselu shows his furstration after he missed a succession of good chances

MATCH FACTS

Real Madrid (4-3-1-2) : Kepa; Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Fran Garcia (Kroos); Camavinga (Fernandez), Modric (Rodrygo), Valverde; Bellingham, Vinicius, Joselu

Unused subs: Pineiro, Lunin, Vazquez, Guler, Paz, Diaz

Booked: Camavinga, Vinicius, Rudiger

Manager: Carlo Ancelotti

Rayo Vallecano: Dimitrievski, Rattiu, Lejeune, Mumim, Espino, Lopez (Trejo), Valentin, Palazon (de Frutos), Ciss (Perez,) Garcia (Bebe), De Tomas (Falcao).

Unused subs: Cardenas, Pascual, Hernandez, Chavarria, Pozo, Camello, Nteka

Booked: Ratiu, Ciss

Manager: Francisco Rodriguez

Referee: Juan Martinez Munuera