the team was close to relegation in the 2003-04 season, but managed to finished 4th the following season. hertha only missed out on the champions league after they were held to a draw on the final day by hannover 96, which saw werder bremen over take them for the spot on the final day. as a thank-you gesture, werder sent the hannover squad ninety-six bottles of champagne. in 2005-06 the "herthaner" finished 6th, and qualified for the uefa cup by defeating fk moskva in the intertoto cup.