In 2003–04, Sánchez enjoyed his best return in front of goal, scoring seven in 31 appearances, including a 3 January 2004 hat-trick at neighbours RC Celta de Vigo (5–0 victory), as Deportivo finished third behind Valencia CF and FC Barcelona. He failed to find the net, though, in a Champions League campaign which concluded with a semi-final loss to FC Porto; in his last year, they would finish eighth in the league and the player was not offered a new contract, a decision helped by the fact he had recently been injured.