Barcelona warned 'any team can hurt them' as Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos identifies weakness in Hansi Flick's side despite Lamine Yamal, Pedri & Co being 'the most attractive in Europe'

German legend Kroos has delivered a candid assessment of Barca’s Champions League prospects, saying that while Flick’s men play some of Europe’s most eye-catching football, their rigid system could ultimately be their downfall. Speaking on the Einfach mal Luppen podcast, the Real Madrid icon highlighted Barca’s late-game fragility, especially after the 75th minute, when energy levels drop and tactical flexibility becomes crucial. The warning comes as Barcelona attempt to rebound from back-to-back defeats, having gone down 2-1 against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and 4-1 against Sevilla in La Liga, results that have exposed defensive vulnerabilities in their otherwise fluid attacking setup.

Kroos, who faced Barcelona numerous times during his glittering Madrid career, acknowledged Flick’s work in reshaping the Catalan giants but stressed that their “obsession” with maintaining the same style leaves them exposed. 

“Barca have one of the most attractive styles, if not the most attractive, in all of Europe,” Kroos said. “But I think they take too many risks. On a bad day from Pedri, Lamine [Yamal], or Raphinha, any team can hurt them and still win. They can eliminate them from the Champions League. Last year it happened to them against Inter, and this year, whether it's in the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, or final, at some point they'll come up against an opponent like this who eliminates them. This will happen to them in the Champions League, but not in La Liga, because they're so dominant.”

Kroos went further, identifying fitness and in-game management as major issues that could undermine Flick’s Champions League ambitions. “From the 75th minute onwards, you notice that everyone is more tired and you see that they don’t switch to a different style of closing down spaces,” he explained. “If you’re tired and don’t change your style of play, it becomes very evident how exposed you are.” 

His comments echo those of other pundits, including Thierry Henry, who has previously criticised Flick’s insistence after the PSG clash, on maintaining an ultra-high defensive line even when the team is under pressure late in games, stating: “you cannot play in the Champions League with such a high line, I’m sorry".

The back-to-back defeats to PSG in the Champions League and Sevilla in La Liga have reignited debates around the sustainability of Flick’s aggressive tactical model. With key players like Yamal, Gavi, Fermin Lopez and Marc-Andre ter Stegen recovering from injuries, the German manager has had limited flexibility to rotate. Yet, Kroos’ critique suggests a deeper concern, that even with a full squad, Barcelona’s stylistic purity could be their Achilles’ heel against elite European opponents.

Barca will look to bounce back after the international break with a crucial run of fixtures, including a Catalan derby against Girona, followed by a Champions League clash with Olympiacos and a much-anticipated trip to the Santiago Bernabeu to face Real Madrid.