# 2003–04 in Argentine football

The 2003–04 Argentine First Division season saw Boca Juniors ecstatic after a title run that also included the Intercontinental Cup. River Plate stole the Clausura leaving hated rival Boca Juniors looking up from second place.
Four teams were relegated, Chacarita, Nueva Chicago, Atlético de Rafaela and Talleres de Córdoba. The first two lost a direct relegation, their places occupied by Club Almagro and Instituto de Córdoba. The last two lost their "promotion" games against Huracán de Tres Arroyos and Argentinos Juniors, respectively.

## Torneo Apertura ("Opening" Tournament)

| Position | Team | Points | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Difference |
| 1 | Boca Juniors | 39 | 19 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 31 | 11 | +20 |
| 2 | San Lorenzo | 36 | 19 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 26 | 13 | +13 |
| 3 | Banfield | 32 | 19 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 27 | 18 | +9 |
| 4 | Quilmes | 31 | 19 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 20 | 13 | +7 |
| 5 | Rosario Central | 31 | 19 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 28 | 26 | +2 |
| 6 | Newell's Old Boys | 29 | 19 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 27 | 20 | +7 |
| 7 | Arsenal de Sarandí | 26 | 19 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 18 | 16 | +2 |
| 8 | River Plate | 26 | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 23 | 24 | -1 |
| 9 | Colón de Santa Fe | 24 | 19 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 23 | 24 | -1 |
| 10 | Talleres de Córdoba | 24 | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 27 | 30 | -3 |
| 11 | Estudiantes La Plata | 23 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 18 | 20 | -2 |
| 12 | Racing Club | 22 | 19 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 13 | Lanús | 22 | 19 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 21 | 23 | -2 |
| 14 | Independiente | 22 | 19 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 19 | -4 |
| 15 | Vélez Sársfield | 22 | 19 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 28 | -8 |
| 16 | Chacarita | 21 | 19 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 20 | 19 | +1 |
| 17 | Gimnasia de La Plata | 21 | 19 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 22 | -8 |
| 18 | Olimpo de Bahía Blanca | 20 | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 17 | 23 | -6 |
| 19 | Atlético de Rafaela | 17 | 19 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 19 | 28 | -9 |
| 20 | Nueva Chicago | 11 | 19 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 14 | 31 | -17 |

### Top Scorers

| Position | Player | Team | Goals |
| 1 | Ernesto Farías | Estudiantes La Plata | 12 |
| 2 | Alberto Acosta | San Lorenzo | 10 |
| 3 | Julián Vásquez | Newell's Old Boys | 9 |
| 4 | Fernando Cavenaghi | River Plate | 8 |
| 4 | Jorge Cervera | Banfield | 8 |
| 4 | Diego Milito | Racing Club | 8 |
| 4 | Carlos Tevez | Boca Juniors | 8 |

### Relegation

    There is no relegation after the Apertura. For the relegation results of this tournament see below

## Torneo Clausura ("Closing" Tournament)

| Position | Team | Points | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Difference |
| 1 | River Plate | 40 | 19 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 41 | 21 | 20 |
| 2 | Boca Juniors | 36 | 19 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 34 | 17 | 17 |
| 3 | Talleres de Córdoba | 35 | 19 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 30 | 19 | 11 |
| 4 | Banfield | 32 | 19 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 27 | 17 | 10 |
| 5 | Vélez Sársfield | 31 | 19 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 31 | 21 | 10 |
| 6 | Quilmes | 29 | 19 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 21 | 16 | 5 |
| 7 | Arsenal de Sarandí | 29 | 19 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 21 | 22 | -1 |
| 8 | Lanús | 20 | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 21 | 27 | -6 |
| 9 | Olimpo de Bahía Blanca | 19 | 19 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 18 | 28 | -10 |
| 10 | Racing Club | 28 | 19 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 29 | 29 | 0 |
| 11 | San Lorenzo | 26 | 19 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 18 | 16 | 2 |
| 12 | Atlético de Rafaela | 26 | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 25 | 24 | 1 |
| 13 | Colón de Santa Fe | 25 | 19 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 20 | 26 | -6 |
| 14 | Newell's Old Boys | 22 | 19 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 28 | 25 | 3 |
| 15 | Independiente | 22 | 19 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 21 | 27 | -6 |
| 16 | Estudiantes La Plata | 21 | 19 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 19 | 29 | -10 |
| 17 | Gimnasia de La Plata | 17 | 19 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 21 | 26 | -5 |
| 18 | Nueva Chicago | 17 | 19 | 2 | 11 | 6 | 18 | 27 | -9 |
| 19 | Chacarita | 17 | 19 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 21 | 34 | -13 |
| 20 | Rosario Central | 13 | 19 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 16 | 29 | -13 |

### Top Scorers

| Position | Player | Team | Goals |
| 1 | Rolando Zárate | Vélez Sársfield | 13 |
| 2 | Aldo Osorio | Talleres de Córdoba | 11 |
| 2 | Fernando Cavenaghi | River Plate | 9 |
| 3 | José Luis Calderón | Arsenal de Sarandí | 8 |
| 4 | Eduardo Bustos Montoya | Banfield | 7 |
| 4 | Esteban Fuertes | Colón de Santa Fe | 7 |
| 4 | Darío Gandín | Atlético Rafaela | 7 |
| 4 | Victor Piríz Alves | Talleres de Córdoba | 7 |
| 4 | Mauro Rosales | Newell's Old Boys | 7 |

### Relegation

| Team | Average | Points | Played | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | 2003-04 |
| River Plate | 2.008 | 229 | 114 | 84 | 79 | 66 |
| Boca Juniors | 1.947 | 222 | 114 | 68 | 79 | 75 |
| Quilmes | 1.578 | 60 | 38 | N/A | N/A | 60 |
| San Lorenzo | 1.526 | 174 | 114 | 57 | 56 | 61 |
| Racing Club | 1.500 | 171 | 114 | 68 | 53 | 50 |
| Vélez Sársfield | 1.464 | 167 | 114 | 48 | 66 | 53 |
| Colón de Santa Fe | 1.421 | 162 | 114 | 56 | 57 | 49 |
| Banfield | 1.403 | 160 | 114 | 48 | 48 | 64 |
| Arsenal de Sarandí | 1.368 | 104 | 76 | N/A | 49 | 55 |
| Newell's Old Boys | 1.324 | 151 | 114 | 51 | 49 | 51 |
| Gimnasia de La Plata | 1.298 | 148 | 114 | 64 | 46 | 38 |
| Independiente | 1.280 | 146 | 114 | 41 | 61 | 44 |
| Rosario Central | 1.280 | 146 | 114 | 40 | 62 | 44 |
| Lanús | 1.263 | 144 | 114 | 51 | 51 | 42 |
| Estudiantes de La Plata | 1.210 | 138 | 114 | 51 | 43 | 44 |
| Olimpo de Bahía Blanca | 1.184 | 90 | 76 | N/A | 51 | 39 |
| Talleres de Córdoba | 1.166 | 133 | 114 | 30 | 44 | 59 |
| Atlético de Rafaela | 1.131 | 43 | 38 | N/A | N/A | 43 |
| Chacarita | 1.105 | 126 | 114 | 47 | 41 | 38 |
| Nueva Chicago | 1.026 | 117 | 114 | 48 | 41 | 28 |

#### "Promoción" Playoff

| Date | Home | Away | Result |
| June 30, 2004 | Huracán de Tres Arroyos | Atlético de Rafaela | 2-1 |
| July 4, 2004 | Atlético de Rafaela | Huracán de Tres Arroyos | 2-3 |
Huracán de Tres Arroyos wins 5-3 and is promoted to Argentine First Division. Atlético Rafaela is relegated to the Argentine Nacional B.
| Date | Home | Away | Result |
| July 1, 2004 | Argentinos Juniors | Talleres de Córdoba | 2-1 |
| July 4, 2004 | Talleres de Córdoba | Argentinos Juniors | 1-2 |
Argentinos Juniors wins 4-2 and is promoted to Argentine First Division. Talleres de Córdoba is relegated to the Argentine Nacional B.

## Argentine clubs in international competitions

| Team | Intercontinental | Recopa | Copa Sudamericana 2003 | Copa Libertadores 2004 |
| Boca Juniors | Champions | Runner up | QF | Runner up |
| River Plate | N/A | N/A | Runner up | Semi final |
| Rosario Central | N/A | N/A | 1st preliminary round | 2nd round |
| Independiente | N/A | N/A | 2nd preliminary round | Group stage |
| Colón de Santa Fe | N/A | N/A | 2nd preliminary round | did not qualify |
| Vélez Sársfield | N/A | N/A | 1st preliminary round | Group stage |

## Lower leagues

| Level | Tournament | Champion |
| 2nd | Primera B Nacional Apertura Primera B Nacional Clausura | Instituto Almagro |
| 3rd | Primera B Metropolitana | Club Atlético Sarmiento |
| 3rd (Interior) | Torneo Argentino A | Racing de Córdoba |
| 4th | Primera C Metropolitana | Argentino de Rosario |
| 5th | Primera D Metropolitana | Sportivo Barracas |

## National team

This section covers Argentina's games from August 1, 2003 to July 31, 2004.
Win  Draw  Loss