Any doubts about Tito Vilanova's abilities to take up where Pep Guardiola left off after four trophy-ladened seasons look to have been misplaced with Barca nine points clear of Atletico and 13 ahead of champions Real Madrid after only 16 games.
A 4-1 thrashing of Diego Simeone's pretenders on Sunday, with another double from Messi, served to underline their dominance in a league where they have swept up 46 of 48 points so far.
"Barca are left without rivals," Catalonia-based daily Sport gloated on Monday. "The league isn't won yet... but everyone thinks it is.
"Those who thought it would be impossible to better Guardiola's era were short-sighted. Last night, Barca won two games in one. Madrid were knocked out, and Atletico brought to their knees."
Argentina forward Messi, who is favourite to collect a fourth World Player award next month, may not have been the outstanding figure against Atletico but he won his personal duel with the league's other form striker Radamel Falcao.
Adriano's spectacular equaliser for Barca was the pick of the goals at the Nou Camp, but Messi bagged two second-half goals to help cancel out Colombia striker Falcao's deft 31st minute opener.
"Barcelona's overall play is very important, but he opens up and finishes off many of the matches. He is different," Simeone said of his Argentine compatriot.
Atletico's title credentials may have been dented by their failures at Real and Barca, but La Liga's only remaining 100 percent home record means the Calderon could still play a part in deciding the outcome.
Just as Atletico so far have replaced their city rivals as Barca's closest pursuers, so Falcao has usurped Cristiano Ronaldo as Messi's nearest challenger in the goal-scoring charts.
"Cristiano played a good game, but his team mates didn't," under-pressure Real coach Jose Mourinho told a news conference. "The overall attitude was good but we lacked composure and luck."
"We aren't stupid, we know we are in a good position in the league, but we must be prudent because the league is far from over yet," Spain and Barca midfielder Xavi told reporters.
