We present some of the results obtained when an ultra-high-intensity (∼5 × 1018W cm−2), ultra-high contrast (>1010) laser pulse interacts with thins foils. Under such conditions, protons accelerated by the target normal sheat acceleration mechanism are observed from both sides of the target and show quasi-symmetric features which have been corroborated by extensive 1D and 2D particle-in-cell simulations. Moreover, we show that due to the very steep gradient of the laser-irradiated surface, the Brunel effect is the main laser energy coupling mechanism.