The start of the new season found Niculae continuing to struggle to find his spot in the first team squad. He played his first league match in a 0–2 away defeat against Vitória Setúbal on 12 September, coming off the bench in the 63rd minute. Two days later, he suffered another injury on his right foot while training. He came back on the field after a five-month break on 19 February 2005, in a goalless draw against Leiria, coming as a substitute for Ricardo Sá Pinto in the 81st minute. He made his first competitive start since his recovery nine days later, in an easy 4–0 home win against Estoril, scoring the first goal. On 14 April, he scored what it proved to be his final goal for Sporting, equalising with a powerful header in a 4–1 home win against Newcastle United. On 18 May, he came off the bench in the 73rd minute of the UEFA Cup final played on the home ground and lost by Sporting 1–3 over CSKA Moscow. He played his final match for the "Lions" four days later, playing 90 full minutes in a 2–4 home defeat against Nacional Madeira.