Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Sidney Sam has said that his side will need a "miracle" to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

The German side suffered a 4-0 defeat in the first leg of their last-16 tie, and Sam admits that their chances of progressing are slim.

"The early goal we conceded was certainly bad, especially against a strong opponent like that," UEFA.com quotes him as saying.

"After letting in the opener I think we played okay, but then we conceded the penalty. We wanted to perform better in the second half and show what the team can do. We wanted to acquit ourselves well in front of our crowd. But then we got the second yellow card [for Emir Spahic] and were just chasing them after that. By then the match was over.

"I think we will give our best and try to do better than the first leg. Of course it will be difficult to make it, you need a miracle to make it happen. But we still want to perform well and do better than the first match."

Leverkusen have never won the Champions League in their history, and were beaten by Real Madrid in their sole final appearance in 2002.