The 2003-04 campaign saw Real Betis secure a respectable 9th-place finish in La Liga, marking a solid season of consolidation in the top flight. Leading the charge was the sensational homegrown winger Joaquín, whose 8 crucial goals provided the attacking spark for Los Verdiblancos and cemented his status as a key player before his Euro 2004 call-up. The season also featured a run to the Round of 16 in the Copa del Rey, and proved to be a vital transitional year that laid the foundations for the club's historic Copa del Rey triumph and Champions League qualification that would follow.