beating Žilina 4–1 on aggregate and Celtic on the away goals rule after a 3–3 aggregate, Basel advanced to the group stage. They ended this in second position behind Valencia, but ahead of Liverpool and Spartak Moscow to advance to the next round. Matchday six was decisive. Basel were in second place in the group table, but their place in the last 16 was all but secured - all they had to do was to make sure they did not lose to Liverpool in the last game of the first group stage. The game began for Liverpool in the worst possible manner. In the second minute Julio Hernán Rossi and in the 22nd Christian Giménez put Basel two up. Atouba himself put them three up in the 29th minute with his first Champions League goal. Atouba has fond memories of this third goal. Hakan Yakin fired a free kick from the right towards Jerzy Dudek's goal.The ball bounced off the goalie, it came to me, and somehow, I steered it over the line from the corner of the five-yard-line. Then I ran, ran towards the Basler bench, where I slipped and fell on my back, and everyone, everyone came and congratulated me. Liverpool fought back, during the second half they managed to draw level, but the score remained at 3–3 right up until the final whistle. Basel thus qualified for the next round. Basel ended the second group stage in third position behind Manchester United and Juventus, but ahead of Deportivo La Coruña. Atouba played in 12 of these 16 games. Basel ended their league season as runners-up, but in the cup they advanced to the final and here they beat Xamax 6–0 to defend the title. Basel ended their league season as runners-up, but in the cup they advanced to the final and here they beat Xamax 6–0 to defend the title that they had won a season earlier. As cup winners Basel were qualified for the UEFA Cup first round and here they beat Malatyaspor 3-2 on aggregate due to the silver goal rule. However, in the second round they lost both games against Newcastle United. Atouba played in three of the games. In their 2003–04 league season the team started well, winning their first 13 matches straight out. The first defeat came on matchday 24. Basel won the championship with 26 victories and seven draws, the team