Former Basel youth player David Degen, who had started his professional career with FC Aarau in 2000 returned to the club.

Basel's biggest signing in advance of the 2003–04 season was Matías Emilio Delgado from Chacarita Juniors[1] But in the other direction Bernt Haas returned to West Bromwich Albion after the end of the loan period.

After five/six week of individual training, Halilhodžić hadn't changed his opinion and the contract between club and player was dissolved under mutual consent and Yakin returned to Basel.

Despite the fact that Grasshopper Club Zürich were the reigning Swiss champions, Basel were favourites to win the domestic championship title.

The second league match was away against Young Boys in sold out Stadion Neufeld in Bern with an attendance of 11,850 fans.

FCB switched up a gear and forced YB back straight away and one minute late they were rewarded with their equaliser through Marco Streller.

In fact, the season started impeccably, Basel won the first thirteen matches straight off, before they lost their first points in the away game against Aarau in the Stadion Brügglifeld with a 2–2 draw.

Despite an away win in round 19 against Young Boys to the start of the second half of the season, the team was not as steadfast as it had been before the winter break.

The team regrouped and Basel remained in top position in the table until the end of the season, thus won the championship.

Christian Giménez was the team's top league scorer with 16 goals, Marco Streller second best with 13 and both Benjamin Huggel and Julio Hernán Rossi netted eight times.

[5] As cup holders the club's clear aim was to defend the trophy, or in minimum to reach the final, because this would again be played in their home stadium St. Jakob-Park.

Basel were drawn against lower league team FC Alle, who at that time played in the fourth tier of Swiss football.

FCB head coach rotated the team, with captain Murat Yakin and Marco Streller he let two regular starters have a day off and the duo Matías Delgado and David Degen took their place on the bench.

Marco Zwyssig, in the 8th minute, Benjamin Huggel, in the 18th and Julio Hernán Rossi in the 20th put the favourites three goals up and with this advantage they reduced their pressure.

Basel reacted and pushed forward in their turn creating good opportunities, but the hosts defence held fast and salvaged the 1–0 lead over the final whistle.

Basel had to play without their best scorer Christian Giménez, defender Timothée Atouba, and the midfield players Esposito and Ivan Ergic who were out injured.

Basel goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbühler also saw the yellow card in after 71 minutes for time-wasting, but he was able to keep a clean score sheet until the end of the game.

[9] Basel started very quickly into the second leg match held at St. Jakob-Park with two good early chances.

Hervé Tum's header after just 45 seconds was a little too wide and Timothée Atouba tried a long range shot only a minute later but this was somewhat too high.

But then the home team then defended their aggregate lead by simply keeping their Turkish opponents at bay by giving them a lot of space in the midfield area.

Basel's goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbühler only had to get involved once during the first half, this after 35 minutes as Muhammet Akagündüz appeared threateningly before him, but Atouba got back quickly to clear the danger.

Malatyaspor kept up their pressure and six minutes from time, Kocak managed to net his second goal as he reacted quicker than the Basel defence to beat Zuberbühler with a well-placed header.

They had already come close on a couple of occasions before Mario Cantaluppi slammed home a powerful drive from outside the penalty area in the 11th minute.

Scott Chipperfield was able to collect the free ball and his shot was slightly deflected as it beat Newcastle keeper Shay Given.

Shola Ameobi skilfully shook off Marco Zwyssig before driving the ball between the legs of keeper Pascal Zuberbühler.

[11] The second leg was played at St James' Park in front of 40,325 spectators and was arbitrated by Danish referee Knud Erik Fisker.

He was the first-person taking action that evening by showing Newcastle's captain Alan Shearer a yellow card after just 15 seconds.

In that action Basel defender Marco Zwyssig was injured and he left the game in the fourth minute, being substituted by Boris Smiljanić.

A Laurent Robert corner was completely misjudged by Basel goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbühler and the ball bounced off the unlucky substitute's shin.

[12] The club had hoped that they could have continued a round or perhaps two further, but despite being knocked out at this stage, they considered that that had achieved their European aim for this season.