The 2003–04 season was Sporting CP's 97th season in existence and 70th consecutive season in the top flight of Portuguese football. The club had a disappointing season in the wake of teenage starlet Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer to Manchester United and Mario Jardel's transfer to Bolton Wanderers in August 2003. In the league, they finished one point behind arch rivals Benfica, who clinched the final spot for the Champions League thanks to a late goal by Geovanni in the penultimate round of the season during the Lisbon derby. In the Portuguese Cup, the club was eliminated in the fifth round after entering in the fourth round. In the UEFA Cup, the club was eliminated at home in the second round with three goals in less than ten minutes by Turkish club Gençlerbirliği after having drawn the fi