# 2003–04 La Liga

The 2003–04 La Liga season was the 73rd since its establishment. It began on 30 August 2003, and concluded on 23 May 2004. Valencia were crowned champions for the sixth time in club history.

## Teams

Twenty teams competed in the league – the top seventeen teams from the previous season and the three teams promoted from the Segunda División. The promoted teams were Murcia, Zaragoza and Albacete, returning to the top flight after an absence of fourteen, one and seven years respectively. They replaced Recreativo, Alavés, and Rayo Vallecano after spending time in the top flight for one, five, and four years respectively.
| Promoted to 2003–04 La Liga | Relegated from 2002–03 La Liga |
| Murcia Zaragoza Albacete | Recreativo Alavés Rayo Vallecano |
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
| Albacete* | Carlos Belmonte | 18,000 |
| Athletic Bilbao | San Mamés | 39,750 |
| Atlético Madrid | Vicente Calderón | 55,005 |
| Barcelona | Camp Nou | 98,772 |
| Betis | Manuel Ruiz de Lopera | 52,132 |
| Celta de Vigo | Estadio Balaídos | 32,500 |
| Deportivo de La Coruña | Riazor | 34,600 |
| Espanyol | Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys | 55,926 |
| Málaga | La Rosaleda | 30,044 |
| Mallorca | Son Moix | 23,142 |
| Murcia* | La Condomina | 16,000 |
| Osasuna | El Sadar | 19,553 |
| Racing de Santander | El Sardinero | 22,400 |
| Real Madrid | Santiago Bernabéu | 80,354 |
| Real Sociedad | Anoeta | 32,200 |
| Sevilla | Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán | 45,500 |
| Valencia | Mestalla | 55,000 |
| Valladolid | José Zorrilla | 27,846 |
| Villarreal | El Madrigal | 23,000 |
| Zaragoza* | La Romareda | 34,596 |
(*) Promoted from Segunda División.

### Personnel and sponsors

| Team | Head Coach | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor (front) | Shirt sponsor (back) | Shirt sponsor (sleeve) | Shorts sponsor |
| Albacete | César Ferrando | Viator | IV Centenario Don Quijote de La Mancha | Caja Castilla-La Mancha/Arcos Cuchillos | None | Periódico El Pueblo de Albacete |
| Athletic Bilbao | Ernesto Valverde | 100% Athletic | Bizkaia (in UEFA matches) | None | None | None |
| Atlético Madrid | Gregorio Manzano | Nike | Columbia Pictures | None | None | None |
| Barcelona | Frank Rijkaard | Nike | None | None | Forum Barcelona 2004 | None |
| Betis | Víctor Fernández | Kappa | Andalucía/La Gitana/Font Lys Agua Mineral | Font Lys Agua Mineral | None | None |
| Celta de Vigo | Ramón Carnero | Umbro | Citroën | None | None | None |
| Deportivo de La Coruña | Javier Irureta | Joma | Fadesa | None | None | None |
| Espanyol | Luis Fernandez | Umbro | Conservas Dani | Interapuestas.com | Forum Barcelona 2004 | Grup Tarradellas |
| Málaga | Juande Ramos | Umbro | Unicaja | None | None | None |
| Mallorca | Luis Aragonés | Reial | Spanair | None | None | Illes Balears |
| Murcia | John Toshack | Nike | Cajamurcia/Polaris World | None | None | None |
| Osasuna | Javier Aguirre | Astore | Caja Navarra | None | None | None |
| Racing de Santander | Lucas Alcaraz | Diadora | Organización Impulsora de Discapacitados | Cantabria | Cantabria | Santander |
| Real Madrid | Carlos Queiroz | Adidas | Siemens Mobile | None | None | None |
| Real Sociedad | Raynald Denoueix | Astore | FIATC Seguros | NGS Europe | NGS Europe | FIATC Seguros, NGS Europe |
| Sevilla | Joaquín Caparrós | Joma | Locco tu marca/La Gitana/Font Lys Agua Mineral | Locco tu marca/La Gitana/Font Lys Agua Mineral | Locco tu marca | Locco tu marca/La Gitana/Font Lys Agua Mineral |
| Valencia | Rafael Benítez | Nike | Toyota | None | None | None |
| Valladolid | Antonio Sánchez Santos | Umbro | Asómate a Valladolid/Grupo Helios/Banco Gallego/Castilla y León Cambia tus Vacaciones/Agroinnova | None | None | None |
| Villarreal | Paquito García | Kelme | Terra Mitica/Aeroport Castelló | None | None | None |
| Zaragoza | Víctor Muñoz | Lotto | Pikolin | None | None | None |

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Valencia (C) | 38 | 23 | 8 | 7 | 71 | 27 | +44 | 77 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
| 2 | Barcelona | 38 | 21 | 9 | 8 | 63 | 39 | +24 | 72 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
| 3 | Deportivo La Coruña | 38 | 21 | 8 | 9 | 60 | 34 | +26 | 71 | Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round |
| 4 | Real Madrid | 38 | 21 | 7 | 10 | 72 | 54 | +18 | 70 | Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round |
| 5 | Athletic Bilbao | 38 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 53 | 49 | +4 | 56 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 6 | Sevilla | 38 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 56 | 45 | +11 | 55 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 7 | Atlético Madrid | 38 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 51 | 53 | −2 | 55 | Qualification for the Intertoto Cup third round |
| 8 | Villarreal | 38 | 15 | 9 | 14 | 47 | 49 | −2 | 54 | Qualification for the Intertoto Cup second round |
| 9 | Real Betis | 38 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 46 | 43 | +3 | 52 | |
| 10 | Málaga | 38 | 15 | 6 | 17 | 50 | 55 | −5 | 51 | |
| 11 | Mallorca | 38 | 15 | 6 | 17 | 54 | 66 | −12 | 51 | |
| 12 | Zaragoza | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 46 | 55 | −9 | 48 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 13 | Osasuna | 38 | 11 | 15 | 12 | 38 | 37 | +1 | 48 | |
| 14 | Albacete | 38 | 13 | 8 | 17 | 40 | 48 | −8 | 47 | |
| 15 | Real Sociedad | 38 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 49 | 53 | −4 | 46 | |
| 16 | Espanyol | 38 | 13 | 4 | 21 | 48 | 64 | −16 | 43 | |
| 17 | Racing Santander | 38 | 11 | 10 | 17 | 48 | 63 | −15 | 42 | |
| 18 | Valladolid (R) | 38 | 10 | 11 | 17 | 46 | 56 | −10 | 41 | Relegation to the Segunda División |
| 19 | Celta Vigo (R) | 38 | 9 | 12 | 17 | 48 | 68 | −20 | 39 | Relegation to the Segunda División |
| 20 | Murcia (R) | 38 | 5 | 11 | 22 | 29 | 57 | −28 | 26 | Relegation to the Segunda División |
* 1 2 SEV 2–0 ATM; ATM 2–1 SEV
* 1 2 MLG 3–1 MLL; MLL 2–1 MLG
* 1 2 OSA 0–1 ZAR; ZAR 1–0 OSA
* ↑ Zaragoza entered UEFA Cup as winners of 2003–04 Copa del Rey.
* ↑ Racing Santander were docked one point deduction due to using foreign players exceeds the quota during a match against Osasuna on 14 December 2003.

## Results

| Home \ Away | ALB | ATH | ATM | FCB | BET | CEL | RCD | ESP | MCF | MLL | MUR | OSA | RAC | RMA | RSO | SFC | VCF | VLD | VIL | ZAR |
| Albacete | | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Athletic Bilbao | 1–1 | | 3–4 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| Atlético Madrid | 1–0 | 3–0 | | 0–0 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 |
| Barcelona | 5–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 |
| Betis | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 2–1 |
| Celta de Vigo | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–2 | | 0–5 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 2–5 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 |
| Deportivo La Coruña | 3–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 3–0 | | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 4–1 |
| Espanyol | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 2–0 | | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 |
| Málaga | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 5–2 | | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–6 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 2–1 |
| Mallorca | 0–0 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–1 | | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 |
| Murcia | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 |
| Osasuna | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 |
| Racing Santander | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 4–4 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 0–0 | | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–4 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 |
| Real Madrid | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 3–1 | | 1–4 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 7–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 |
| Real Sociedad | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–0 |
| Sevilla | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 5–2 | 4–1 | 1–0 | | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
| Valencia | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 |
| Valladolid | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | | 3–0 | 1–2 |
| Villarreal | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 6–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–1 | 3–1 | | 1–1 |
| Zaragoza | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 4–4 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 4–1 | |

## Overall

* Most wins – Valencia (23)
* Fewest wins – Murcia (5)
* Most draws – Osasuna (15)
* Fewest draws – Espanyol (4)
* Most losses – Murcia (22)
* Fewest losses – Valencia (7)
* Most goals scored – Real Madrid (72)
* Fewest goals scored – Murcia (29)
* Most goals conceded – Celta de Vigo (68)
* Fewest goals conceded – Valencia (27)

## Awards
### Pichichi Trophy

The Pichichi Trophy is awarded to the player who scores the most goals in a season.
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Ronaldo | Real Madrid | 24 |
| 2 | Júlio Baptista | Sevilla | 20 |
| 3 | Mista | Valencia | 19 |
| 3 | Raúl Tamudo | Espanyol | 19 |
| 3 | Fernando Torres | Atlético Madrid | 19 |
| 6 | Salva | Málaga | 18 |
| 7 | Samuel Eto'o | Mallorca | 17 |
| 7 | David Villa | Zaragoza | 17 |

### Fair Play award

Valencia was the winner of the Fair-play award with 99 points.

### Pedro Zaballa award

Joan Laporta (Barcelona president) and José María Alanís (CD Siempre Alegres footballer)

### Hat-tricks

| Player | Club | Against | Result | Date |
| Raúl | Real Madrid | Valladolid | 7–2 (H) | 13 September 2003 |
| Ricardo Oliveira | Valencia | Mallorca | 5–0 (A) | 2 November 2003 |
| Salva | Málaga | Barcelona | 5–1 (H) | 3 December 2003 |
| Víctor | Deportivo La Coruna | Celta Vigo | 5–0 (A) | 3 January 2004 |
| Javi Guerrero | Racing Santander | Murcia | 3–2 (H) | 25 January 2004 |
| Ricardo Oliveira | Valencia | Málaga | 6–1 (A) | 31 January 2004 |
| Júlio Baptista | Sevilla | Murcia | 3–1 (A) | 14 February 2004 |
| Mista | Valencia | Mallorca | 5–1 (H) | 21 March 2004 |
| Júlio Baptista$^4$ | Sevilla | Racing Santander | 5–2 (H) | 18 April 2004 |
| David Villa$^4$ | Zaragoza | Sevilla | 4–4 (H) | 25 April 2004 |
* $^4$ Player scored 4 goals

## Attendances

FC Barcelona drew the highest average home attendance in the 2003-04 edition of La Liga.
| # | Football club | Home games | Average attendance |
| 1 | FC Barcelona | 19 | 73,624 |
| 2 | Real Madrid | 19 | 70,231 |
| 3 | Valencia CF | 19 | 47,058 |
| 4 | Atlético de Madrid | 19 | 45,208 |
| 5 | Sevilla FC | 19 | 36,006 |
| 6 | Real Betis | 19 | 34,959 |
| 7 | Athletic Club de Bilbao | 19 | 32,400 |
| 8 | Real Zaragoza | 19 | 30,153 |
| 9 | RCD Espanyol | 19 | 26,871 |
| 10 | Real Sociedad | 19 | 26,158 |
| 11 | Deportivo de La Coruña | 19 | 25,921 |
| 12 | Málaga CF | 19 | 21,603 |
| 13 | Celta de Vigo | 19 | 20,274 |
| 14 | RCD Mallorca | 19 | 16,018 |
| 15 | Villarreal CF | 19 | 15,394 |
| 16 | Osasuna | 19 | 15,368 |
| 17 | Albacete Balompié | 19 | 14,919 |
| 18 | Real Valladolid | 19 | 14,861 |
| 19 | Racing de Santander | 19 | 14,312 |
| 20 | Real Murcia | 19 | 11,720 |