Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman defended starting victory over Sevilla with Antoine Griezmann on the bench.

The system left no place for Antoine Griezmann, who watched from the bench as Ousmane Dembele and Lionel Messi combined well in attack.

"It's not a message," Koeman said on Griezmann's lack of minutes.

"We decided to change the system and, to be able to get in behind, we put Dembele up top.

"With the first goal, we said that we needed someone quicker than Griezmann on Messi's side.

"It's not a punishment."

Youngster Ilaix Moriba was one of the players to come off the bench ahead of Griezmann and helped set up Messi for the second goal.

"He was very good," Koeman said on the midfielder.

"He was strong and very calm on the ball after coming on.

"He contributed in the little time he had. He helped us to win."