The 2002-03 campaign for El Submarino Amarillo was a season of consolidation in La Liga as the club finished 15th, securing a crucial Intertoto Cup spot for the following summer. The attack was anchored by joint top scorers Jorge López and Víctor Fernández, who each netted 8 crucial goals in the league, maintaining the club's top-flight status. While the domestic season was inconsistent under managers Víctor Muñoz and Benito Floro, the year was pivotal for their European story as they competed in the UEFA Intertoto Cup at the start of the season, only narrowly losing the final to compatriots Málaga.