Barcelona vs. Atlético Madrid: 5-0 Rout Will Put Barca Back on Track

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have a legitimate shootout on their hands for top scorer in La Liga.

Just when we thought Ronaldo was going to make a move back to the top with a hat trick against Rayo Vallecano, Messi reminded us that he is still the best player in the world.

Barcelona entered the match on the heels of a disappointing 2-2 draw with Valencia. They've played five games in the past two weeks and had five ups and downs. The UEFA Champions League holders have yet to lose in the new campaign, but they played to two draws in La Liga play as well as opening Champions League play with a draw against AC Milan.

They haven't been disappointing, but they also haven't been consistent.

And that could be a problem going forward, or they can just start playing like they did today all the time.

Messi found the net three times—twice in the final 12 minutes—and the club owned every phase of the game.

Barca had more shots on goal than Atletico had overall. They held possession for 67 percent of the match and they had seven more corner kicks than their opponent.

It was a massacre in every sense of the word.

And now that Catalan giants are set for another turn in Champions League play with a match against BATE Borisov on the 28th.

Unlike the 8-0 demolition of Osasuna on the 17th, Barca needs to ride this momentum into October.

Messi can turn things on at any moment, but to sustain that level of play is something else entirely.

But that is what we should see from the Argentine star and the rest of the Barcelona squad. 

This unit is still the very best in the world and they will continue to prove it as this season moves along. The consistency issues will cease, and Barcelona will consistently beat up on other squads in the very near future.