Toni Kroos Warns Barcelona: Attractive Football Could Be Their Champions League Weakness

Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos has praised Barcelona as one of the most attractive teams in Europe under Hansi Flick, but warned that their high-risk playing style could be their undoing in the Champions League.

Speaking on the Einfach mal Luppen podcast, Kroos acknowledged the brilliance of young stars like Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Raphinha, but insisted that Barça’s obsession with maintaining their fluid attacking football leaves them vulnerable against elite opponents.

“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, or Raphinha, any team can hurt them and still win.”

Fragile After the 75th Minute

Kroos pointed out that fatigue and lack of tactical flexibility become major issues for Flick’s side in the closing stages of matches.

“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.”

This assessment comes after Barcelona suffered back-to-back defeats — a 2-1 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and a 4-1 defeat to Sevilla in La Liga — exposing cracks in their defensive structure.

Not A La Liga Problem

Kroos believes Barcelona will continue to dominate domestically due to their quality, but warned the Champions League presents a different challenge where tactical discipline and adaptability are key.

His remarks echo Thierry Henry’s recent criticism of Flick’s ultra-high defensive line, which he called “unsustainable” in European competition.

As Barcelona chase continental glory, Flick must find a way to balance his team’s attacking flair with defensive resilience — or risk falling short once again.