Kauno Žalgiris fell to a disappointing 1-0 home defeat against Arda in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League qualifier on August 8, 2025. The Lithuanian champions were unable to break down a resilient Bulgarian defense at the Darius and Girėnas Stadium. The only goal of the game came against the run of play in the first half, as Arda capitalized on a defensive lapse. Kauno Žalgiris dominated possession and created numerous chances in the second half but were repeatedly denied by the Arda goalkeeper, who produced a man-of-the-match performance. The result leaves the Lithuanian side with a difficult task in the second leg in Bulgaria, where they must win to keep their European hopes alive.