Adios 'La Bombi': María Sánchez prepares for championship farewell with Tigres

Leave a champion. That's what UANL Tigres forward María Sánchez is attempting to do tonight in the 2021 Liga MX Femenil Apertura Gran Final second leg against Monterrey Rayadas. The Monterrey rivals tied the first leg 2-2 last Friday night at the Estadio BBVA. 

READ MORE: Explainer - who is María Sánchez?  

"Without a doubt, these are the two best teams," said Tigres head coach Roberto Medino, speaking at Liga MX Femenil's media day. "A Clásico Regio Gran Final is simply the best way to offer a good show. We will of course, try to play the better soccer."

Tickets to Monday's match sold out in two hours after they went on sale.

Playing the "better soccer" is practically all Sánchez has known since she swapped the red and white of Chivas Guadalajara for the gold and blue of Tigres in 2021. Affectionately known by the fans as 'La Bombi' — the bomb, because of her explosive ability on the ball — Sánchez has scored 13 goals in 24 matches (regular season and playoff matches combined) for Tigres.

"Right now I'm for Tigres"

Once Sánchez arrived in Monterrey, Tigres soared to even more stratospheric heights. Having already established itself as the most dominant force in Liga MX Femenil since the league's inception in 2017, winning has been even more constant in the past calendar year.

Tigres is now closing in on its fifth Liga MX Femenil championship since 2017, its third in consecutive tournaments and its second straight with Sánchez in the side. This will also be the fourth Clásico Regio Gran Final between Tigres and Rayadas. Tigres has lifted the trophy on every occasion but the 2019 Clausura.  

Heading into Monday's Gran Final, UANL has lost just two of its past 44 Liga MX Femenil matches. The first was a 2-1 away defeat to Atlas during the opening stages of the Clausura in January 2021. After going 40 matches unbeaten, UANL suffered only its second-ever loss with Sánchez in the team against Club América in this season's Luigilla semifinal first leg.

Tigres eventually reached the 2021 Apertura Gran Final by characteristically storming back in the second leg 4-0 versus América. Sánchez scored two goals that night, which caused the home fans at the Estadio Universitario to erupt in an emphatic frenzy of joy. 

Throughout the 2021 Apertura season, the Mexican international's future with Tigres has come under scrutiny from local media and online. "Right now I'm for Tigres, I'm for Tigres until further notice," said Sánchez to ABC Deportes, after the news of her loan deal to the Houston Dash in May 2021 became public before the previous Clausura Gran Final. 

READ MORE: How good was Maria Sánchez in Houston?  

In the week leading up to Tigres' latest championship match, head coach Roberto Medina was similarly bombarded with questions regarding whether 'La Bombi' would be staying on in Monterrey. 

"The decision is in her hands, the club will make an effort because if she wants to stay but it will be her decision. If it is in our favor then good for us and if it is against, then it is good for her," he said to ABC Deportes. 

On the Houston side, Dash head coach James Clarkson has declined to say anything definitive while Sánchez was competing in Liga MX Femenil. "I don't really want to talk about Maria because she's still under contract. She's a great player, but Tigres is still in competition," he told The Striker Texas in November 2021. 

However when the Dash unveiled its protection list ahead of the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft, it became apparent that Sánchez had in fact committed her future to Houston. 

READ MORE: Tigres' Sánchez looks to have signed with Houston Dash  

Me cuidan bien a María

Tigres fans are arguably the most gregarious and abundant in women's soccer worldwide.

For the past few months, tributes have flooded online in the form of art, memes, videos and poems. Sentiments ranging from "don't leave us" to "take good care of our María" have similarly appeared on hand-written signs in the stadium. "It hurts me a lot, but I have the faith and hope that one day she will return," read a tweet by @daniela24md that tagged Sánchez before the Rayadas match.

It is no surprise that in the telenovela that is Sánchez' exit from Tigres, the Dash and its fans have been portrayed as public enemy number one by the Tigres fans known as 'incomparables.' The NWSL team is often portrayed as an enchantress whisking the superstar away from her beloved with big promises. 

Soccer-wise, the pressure on Sánchez' shoulders has only increased ahead of the Gran Final. Tigres' leading goal scorer Stef Mayor was suspended on Sunday for physical altercation in Friday's first leg that involved Rayadas player Christina Burkenroad. Burkenroad will miss Monday's Gran Final with a broken nose because of the act. Mayor will begin her suspension immediately and miss the Gran Final, the first match of the 2022 Clausura and pay a fine to the league.

But Sánchez is used to playing heroine. The roar of El Volcan awaits. 38,7000 Tigres fans will have 90 minutes to shower Sánchez with love and affection before her incredible time in Monterrey comes to a presumed end. Compelling 'La Bombi' on to farewell championship, the emotion on the pitch promises to be enthralling. 

Vamos María, one last time. 

Tigres vs. Rayadas in the Liga MX Femenil Gran Final will air on Monday Dec. 20 at 8:00 p.m. CT on TUDN USA and can be streamed on the Tigres Femenil Facebook page.