Atletico Madrid arrive at RCDE Stadium on a five-match winning run, 11 points clear of mid-table Espanyol in La Liga.
The Argentine centre-back singled out technical director Jason Wilcox in a searing post-match television interview that drew an immediate rebuke from Wayne Rooney.
Villarreal and Napoli both sit on zero points in the UEFA Champions League League Stage after one match apiece, making Tuesday's fixture at Estadio de la Ceramica a significant early test.
