If the game was billed as Lionel Messi against Sergio Aguero then there was only one winner, but it wasn't just Messi who split Atletico open at the Nou Camp on Saturday.

Rafa Marquez sent Barca on their way with a flicked header from a corner after three minutes and then Samuel Eto'o scored the first of his brace.

Quick thinking at a free-kick allowed Messi to place the ball into an empty net as goalkeeper Gregory Coupet was still constructing the wall as the avalanche continued.

Maxi Rodriguez offered some relief after 13 minutes with a well taken shot for Atletico but Barca then scored two more before half-time from Eto'o and Eidur Gudjohnsen.

In the second half, with the game won, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola made several substitutions and Thierry Henry came off the bench to score perhaps the best strike of the game with a well-worked goal.

"I think that was the best match since I came here," said Guardiola whose side are now second in the table, three points behind Villarreal.

But the Barcelona coach also had to play down rumours of a rift with Eto'o, who was unhappy at being substituted in the second half.

"There is no problem with Eto'o, he's not angry. He didn't like being taken off, I know, but that is my decision."

Downcast Atletico coach Javier Aguirre was quick to accept blame for his team's performance.

"I'm the only one responsible, it was a sorry game, there is no explanation for conceding three goals like that in eight minutes and it meant that the game was over. They were better than us in everything," he said.

Two goals in two minutes saw Villarreal come from behind against struggling Real Betis for a win which sees them overtake Valencia at the top of the table.

Villarreal had been unbeaten at home for ten months but with Betis the last team to win at El Madrigal, Paco Chaparro's side were confident of springing a surprise.

Betis, who have failed to win this season, went ahead after 20 minutes through former Barcelona defender Damia Abella.

But they struggled to maintain their rhythm and Gonzalo Prado equalised for the home side with a flicked header from a free-kick, after 69 minutes.

Substitute Robert Pires then miscued a shot from the left of the area, but it fortuitously found Joseba Llorente who was left with the simple task of scoring from close range.

Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini felt tiredness from their Champions League campaign was the reason why his side was not playing at their best.

"I think that one of the keys to the game was the extra break that Betis had as they did not play during the week.

Luckily though we had enough in reserve," he said.

A dejected Chaparro was at a loss to explain the result.

"They should have killed the match off in the first half. Villarreal had two or three shots and scored twice," he said.

In-form strike partnership David Villa and Juan Mata will aim to put Valencia back at the top against Valladolid on Sunday.

Under Unai Emery this season, Valencia have rediscovered their solidity in defence while, going forward, Joaquin Sanchez is showing again the skills which alerted the top sides in Europe when he was at Real Betis.

Real Madrid are also just a point behind after going on a seven match winning streak and with Ruud van Nistelrooy at his lethal best, they will be confident of brushing aside the threat of Espanyol, who have lost their last two games.

At the bottom of the table Sporting Gijon, still without any points, travel to Mallorca buoyed by a good performance against Villarreal last weekend when they were unlucky to have lost.