Terrifying footage has emerged that shows people jumping fences and pushing through ticket barriers as they attempted to enter London's iconic Wembley Stadium.
It had been hoped a £5m ring of steel defence would stop such incidents - after it marred England's Euro 2020 final three years ago.
The breaches did not stop at the gates.
A Metropolitan Police statement read: "We are confident that the overwhelming majority of attempts to unlawfully gain access to Wembley this evening were unsuccessful thanks to the efforts of officers, stewards and other stadium staff.
"Officers have made 53 arrests at Wembley - five for pitch invasion and the majority of others for attempts to breach security. Major sporting events often attract attempts by those without tickets to bypass perimeter fencing or otherwise gain entry.
"There is a robust policing operation in place to support the Wembley security plan and officers have worked closely with stewards and stadium staff to maintain security throughout.
"Videos shared online showing groups running into entrances do not necessarily represent successful attempts to enter the stadium. There are typically multiple further levels of security beyond an initial entrance.
"Officers remain in the area outside the stadium and will deal decisively with any criminality."
A series of pitch invaders also disrupted the match, running across the field unchallenged after kick-off.
One of these individuals paused to take a selfie with Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, capturing a moment of chaos on what should have been a night of football celebration.
Wembley Stadium security staff quickly removed two of the intruders, but the disruptions continued as another person ran onto the field, visibly irritating some players.
It ultimately took four security staff to apprehend the final invader, marking a shaky start to the highly anticipated match.
Real Madrid, aiming to secure a record-extending 15th European Cup, faced Borussia Dortmund, who are seeking their second Champions League title.
The pre-match chaos, however, has cast a shadow over the event, raising questions about the effectiveness of the security measures in place.
As the match continues, fans and officials alike hope that the focus can return to the football on the pitch rather than the security breaches that marred the beginning of the evening.
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